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Biennial report of the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History

Biennial report of the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History

THE LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA
C9O6
N87h
23-28
19148-60
UNIVERSITY OF N C AT CHAPEL HILL
00033953614
This book must not
be token from the
Library building.
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive
in 2009 with funding from
Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access (NC-LSTA)
http://www.archive.org/details/biennialreportof195658nort
TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT
of the
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
JULY 1, 1956
TO
JUNE 30, 1958
RALEIGH
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
1958
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Executive Boards
McDaniel Lewis, Chairman, Greensboro
James W. Atkins, Gastonia
Gertrude Sprague Carraway, New Bern
Fletcher M. Green, Chapel Hill
Josh L. Home, Rocky Mount
William Thomas Laprade, Durham
Herschell V. Rose, Smithfield
Christopher Crittenden, Director, Raleigh
IN MEMORIAM
Clarence W. Griffin
March 22, 1904—January 10, 1958
The Executive Board of the Department on January 17, 1958,
passed the following resolution
:
Whereas, our fellow Board member Clarence W. Griffin of
Forest City departed this life on January 10 last, and
Whereas, he had served for eighteen years as a member of the
Executive Board of this Department and had rendered faithful
and valuable service in this connection, and
Whereas, he had long been a leader in historical interests and
activities in North Carolina, having published many books and
articles, promoted many movements, and led many oi'ganizations
in the field. Now, Therefore
Be It Resolved by the Executive Board of the State Depart-ment
of Archives and History, First, that we express our deep
regret at the passing of Clarence Griffin and our appreciation
for all the services he had rendered, both as a member of this
Board and in the field of North Carolina history in general, and
Second, that this resolution be entered in the minutes of the
Board and that copies be sent to the family.
1 For terms of office of members of the Executive Board, see below. Appendix 1,
p. 64.
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION
To His Excellency
Luther H. Hodges
Governor of North Carolina
Dear Governor Hodges
:
In compliance with Chapter 543, Session Laws of 1955,
I have the honor to submit herewith for your Excellency's
consideration the Biennial Report of the North Carolina
Department of Archives and History for the period, July 1,
1956-June 30, 1958.
Respectfully,
Christopher Crittenden,
Director
Raleigh, July 1. 1958
CONTENTS
Lonji-ran^-u View 7
Division of Archives and Manuscripts 21
Division of Historic Sites 34
Division of Museums 43
Division of Publications 54
Appendixes:
I The Executive Board, June 30, 1958 64
II Appropriations and Expenditures, 1930-1958 65
III Appropriations and Expenditures, 1956-1958 65
IV Number of Employees as of June 30
at the End of Each Biennium 66
V Positions and Salary Ranges, June 30, 1958 67
VI List of Employees, Showing Name, Title,
and Period of Service 67
VII Publications of Staff Members 70
VIII Archives and Manuscripts Accessioned 73
IX Services Rendered by Division of Archives
and Manuscripts, by State and Foreign
Country 94
X Services Rendered by Division of Archives
and Manuscripts, by Classification 95
XI Number of Visits to Search Room for
Each Biennium, 1928-1958 95
XII Colleges and Universities Represented by
Visitors and Mail Inquirers 96
XIII Topics of Research of Visitors and
Mail Inquirers 96
XIV Photographic Copies Furnished by the
Division of Archives and Manuscripts 98
XV Pages Laminated 98
XVI Visits to Counties by State Archivist to
Assist in Handling Official Records
Problems 98
XVII Administrative Histories and
Inventories Agencies Completed 99
XVIII State Records Microfilmed 99
XIX Records Turnover at Records Center 100
XX New Historical Markers Erected
During the Biennium 101
XXI Registration at the Hall of History,
by State and Foreign Country 101
XXII Museum Items Accessioned 103
XXIII Volumes, Pamphlets, Leaflets, and
Charts Mailed by Month 122
XXIV Copies of The North Carolina Historical
Revieiv Mailed by Issue 122
XXV Back Issues of The North Carolina
Historical Review Mailed by Month 122
XXVI Paid-up Subscriptions, New or Renewal,
Received for The North Carolina
Historical Revieiv, by Month 123
XXVII Articles Published in The North Carolina
Historical Revieiv 123
XXVIII Documents Published in The North Carolina
Historical Review 125
XXIX Copies of Carolina Comments Mailed
Per Issue 125
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BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
July 1, 1956, to June 30, 1958
Long-Range View
During the 1957-1958 fiscal year the Department's Ad-visory
Committee held a series of meetings in order to view
the Department's program in perspective—to take stock of
what we have accomplished in the past, what we have failed
to accomplish, where we stand today, and what should be
our major future objectives, both short-term and long-range.
Attending the meetings (or at least a portion of
them) were the Director, the Budget Officer, the four divi-sion
heads, the Records Center Supervisor, and the Admin-istrative
Assistant of the North Carolina Literary and
Historical Association. The eight sessions lasted some two
hours each—a total of approximately sixteen hours—and
a full and free discussion was held of the various phases of
our over-all program. It was felt that the conferences did
much to clarify our thinking regarding the Department's
major objectives and accomplishments, to show in broad
view not merely the individual trees but the forest as a
whole. We sought to paint the picture with broad strokes
of the brush, omitting routine matters and trivial details.
The major points that were made (many of which are fur-ther
elaborated in the reports of the four divisions and in
the appendixes) are these:
Past Accomplishments
Since its establishment in 1903 the Department of
Archives and History (until 1943 the Historical Commis-sion)
has made great progress along many lines:
1. From an annual appropriation of $500 in 1903 and
$5,000 in 1907 to $346,535 in 1957-1958.1
2. From a salaried staff- of none in 1903 to one in 1907
to forty-two in 1957-1958.
1 For appropriations and expenditures, 1930-1958, see Appendix II, p. 65; and for
appropriations and expenditures, 1956-1958, see Appendix III, p. 65.
- For the number of employees as of June 30, at the end of each biennium, see
Appendix IV, p. 66; for positions and salary ranges, June 30, 1958, see Appendix V,
p. 67; for a list of employees showing names, title, and period of service, see Appen-dix
VI, p. 67; and for a list of publications by members of the staff, see Appendix
VII, p. 70.
Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
John David Ellington, Hall of History, October 2Jt, 1958
Members of the administrative start". (Left to rifjlit) James T. Hardy, Mrs. Grace
B. Mahler, Christopher Crittenden (Director), Mis. Blanche M. Johnson, Miss Ann
J. Kilby, and Mrs, Madlin M. Futrell.
3. In Raleigh, from one small room at the beginning to
a total of 48,890 square feet in 1957-1958.
4. Throughout the State, from custody of no historic sites
to custody of a number of significant areas.
5. From a somewhat limited field of collecting, preserv-ing,
and publishing archives and manuscripts to today's
comprehensive program of (a) conducting a well-rounded
archives program; (b) handling records administration for
the State, the counties, and the municipalities; (c) pub-lishing
documentary volumes, a historical quarterly, a news-letter,
pamphlets, and leaflets; (d) maintaining the State
historical museum and leading a program for historical
museums throughout the State; (e) developing and main-taining
historic properties throughout North Carolina and
marking historic sites; (f) strengthening and broadening
the work and activities of the North Carolina Literary and
Historical Association, and finally (g) serving as a clearing
house for the historical interests and activities of our people.
6. From a small, limited place in the State government to
recognition as a Department performing vital services to
other State agencies,
State Department of Archives and History 9
7. From limited beginnings to broad and recognized
services to the counties and municipalities.
8. From a little-known status to recognition and appre-ciation
by the people of the State.
9. From obscurity to a national and international repu-tation.
General Needs
Thus the Department hag come a long way, and its serv-ices
and accomplishments have won wide recognition. In-creasingly
it has sought to serve not merely limited classes
of college and university history professors, scholars, re-searchers,
and other similar groups, based upon a kind of
trickle-down philosophy that if such groups are served,
eventually the service will trickle down to other groups and
individuals. Rather, without sacrificing or lessening the
services to such special groups, the Department has under-taken
to render a variety of services to all the people.
In the beginning most of the services rendered were lim-ited
to the State Capital. It was as though we said to the
people, "We have certain things to offer you, but you will
have to come to Raleigh to get them." Recently a broad
extension program has been undertaken—to carry the De-partment's
services to all the population in all parts of the
State.
Although we have come a long way, we should not rest
on our laurels but rather should seek to go on to even
greater achievements. What are our chief problems and
needs? There are certain needs that are felt in practically
all of the Department's activities, as follows:
1. More space in Raleigh. Nearly all parts of our program
are handicapped by lack of adequate space. For example,
we estimate that the archives areas will be completely filled
in two more years, so that there ivill he no space whatsoever
in which to place inco}ynng archives afid manuscripts. The
storage areas for the Department's publications are chock-ablock.
The areas for the study collections of the Hall of
History are inadequate. And so it goes throughout. The
Department simply cannot function adequately or render
10 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
maximum services to the people of the State until it has
adequate space,
2. Specially designed space. The Department's Raleigh
functions are now conducted in an office building (the Edu-cation
Building) , where they can never be carried on most
efficiently. Much of the present area is not suitably designed
for the Department's specialized functions. Through several
of the archives areas pass large pipes that carry heat to other
parts of the building, so that it is well-nigh impossible to
maintain proper temperature and humidity for the preser-vation
of manuscript materials—and yet here are milHons
of records of the State and counties, going back far into the
colonial period, unique and irreplaceable. Much of the ex-hibit
space in the Hall of History is lost because, contrary
to modern museum design, most of the outer wall space is
taken up with large windows. These and other examples
that could be cited indicate that the Department can never
render the full services it should until it is provided with
specially designed quarters.
3. New building. The only solution to the problems out-lined
in the paragraphs above appears to be the erection of
a new structure, specially designed for the Department's
functions and activities and suitably equipped, planned to
take care of hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Many of the states of the Union have constructed such
buildings within recent years. Every State that borders on
North Carolina—Virginia, South CaroHna, Georgia, and
Tennessee—has recently either erected such an edifice or
else has appropriated funds to begin construction. It is in
a sense ironical that North Carolina, with a recorded history
going back to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Sir Walter
Raleigh, and even beyond—as far back as or even further
than the history of any of the States mentioned above—has
not yet constructed an adequate building to provide for the
State's historical activities.
4. Facilities at historic sites. At the Department's his-toric
site projects the lack of museum and general purpose
buildings, dwelling houses for project personnel, rest rooms,
and other facilities seriously hamper the Historic Sites
Program.
State Department of Archives and History 11
5. A larger staff. While the number of employees has
increased rapidly in recent years, there is yet the oppor-tunity
to render greater services if additional staff members
are provided. With a larger staff we could better serve the
thousands of searchers who each year make use of the
records, we could do a better job of records administration,
we could preform a more useful service in the field of his-toric
sites—and so on throughout the range of the Depart-ment's
various activities.
6. Higher salary ranges. The Department is no longer a
small, unknown agency but is in the main stream of his-torical
activities throughout the Nation. Thus in employing
and holding competent personnel it finds itself in competi-tion
with top-notch agencies and organizations, public and
private, throughout the entire United States. Within the
past few years, through the co-operation of the State Per-sonnel
Department and the Budget Division, salaries have
been raised substantially. In order to maintain high stand-ards,
however, yet higher salary ranges are or soon will be
needed.
7. More funds. With prices creeping upward year by year,
some increase in available funds will be needed merely to
stand still. In order to conduct the enlarged program out-lined
above and below, or any major part thereof, con-siderably
larger appropriations will be required.
Specific Functions
The needs outlined above are felt in all areas of the De-partment's
program. While we will seek not to repeat them
as we now take up specific duties and functions, these com-mon
needs are almost universally present.
Archives and Manuscripts:
The function of acquiring, preserving, and making avail-able
for use the non-current archives of the various State
agencies and of the counties, together with collections of
private and unofficial papers, was one of the first to be
emphasized as soon as the agency became active. R. D, W.
Connor, the first head, ferreted out from closets, attics,
and basements, large quantities of documents, some dating
12 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
far back into the colonial period, from the various provin-cial
congresses, State constitutional conventions, the Gover-nor,
the Secretary of State, and other State officials. In later
years this program has been continued and expanded to
include county and other local records, private manuscripts,
and all types of materials. Today the Department's achieve-ments
and services in the field of archives and manuscripts
are recognized as among the best of any State of the Union.
The chief needs in this field appear to be as follows
:
1. The processing of records already in the Archives.
For a number of years more materials were brought in than
could be made immediately available. The result was the
accumulation of a large backlog of records to which the
public did not have access. Within the past two years a con-certed
effort has been made to process this backlog of
records by repairing (where necessary), arranging, shelv-ing,
and the preparation of finding aids. The result is that
a considerable portion of the backlog has been made avail-able.
There is yet a long way to go, however, and consistent
effort and hard work will be needed to do the job. As soon
as practicable, a new guide to the Department's archives
and manuscripts should be prepared and published.
2. The acquisition of additional State and local records.
There are yet many records of State agencies and the coun-ties,
and some records of the municipalities, that are worth
preserving, that cannot be adequately cared for where they
now are, and that should be transferred to the Archives.
3. The local records program needs to be expanded. The
General Assembly of 1957 appropriated funds for the salary
of a Public Records Examiner to operate in this field. We
were not able to fill this position by the end of the biennium
(but it was filled effective August 1, 1958, and great things
are expected)
,
4. An enlarged program for the acquisition of the private
papers of prominent North Carolinians is needed. The
Department has recently obtained the papers of Thurmond
Chatham, R. Gregg Cherry, and W. Kerr Scott. There
would appear to be a special reason for the Department's
having the private papers of the governors and other State
State Department of Archives and History i;}
officials. In most instances it already has their official papers,
and it will be decidedly convenient to researchers if the
private papers of such officials can be in the same depository.
As scholars well know, the distinction between public busi-ness
and private affairs is often nebulous, or there is over-lapping
between the two, so that the researcher needs to use
both kinds of material. It will be to his advantage if they
are all in the same place.
In this connection the Executive Board of the Department
on March 14, 1958, passed the following resolution
:
". . . That the families of all recent governors, including
the present governor and all future governors, who have
not yet placed the private papers of such governors in a
public depository, be invited to deposit such papers with the
Department, since the official papers of all the governors are
already there and it is much more convenient for the re-searcher
if all the papers of one man, both private and
public papers, are in the same place."
Shortly thereafter the Department launched a concerted
campaign to acquire the papers of former governors, and
at the end of the biennium the chances of success in this
field seemed excellent.
5. A program for microfilming early North Carolina
newspapers and county records should be undertaken. Many
of both, if not filmed soon, will be irreparably lost. With
the experience that the Department has had with micro-filming,
it seems the logical agency to undertake both
projects.
Rccoids Maiiuycinviil
:
As will be seen in the report of the Records Management
Supervisor, below, very gratifying progress has been made
in this field. Though the program is comparatively new, it
has rapidly gone ahead and has won recognition from many
of the State departments and agencies. It has a feature that
appeals immediately to budget and administrative officials.
While such things as preserving historical documents for
re.search purposes, marking historic spots, maintaining a
historical museum, or publishing historical materials may
14 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
have some appeal to such officials, such functions in most
instances are more or less intangible and the return there-from
cannot be reduced to dollars and cents. On the other
hand, a records management program, which can show
that over a certain period of time it has made available
so many square feet of office space at a saving of so many
dollars to the State—such a program easily proves its im-mediate
and tangible value.
The establishment of the new Department of Adminis-tration,
effective July 1, 1957, has served to strengthen the
records management program. The new department has
employed a Management Analyst, and he has been co-operating
closely with the Department of Archives and
History in meeting problems of records management.
The chief needs of the Records Management Program
seem to be the following
:
1. Shelving in the Records Center. The installation of
such shelving, going all the way to the ceiling, will approxi-mately
double the amount of records space and will thus
alleviate this problem. Before many years the entire present
building will be needed for the Records Center.
2. Participation in the program by a number of State
agencies that do not now participate. Though most of the
larger departments have now taken advantage of this serv-ice,
there are several agencies that have not yet done so.
It will be to their advantage to participate, for such action
will go a long way toward solving their records problems
—
at no cost to the agencies.
3. Inclusion in the program of the various Stale institu-tions
wherever located and of branches of State agencies
outside the City of Raleigh. So far very little has been
done in this field.
4. Rounding out the Records Management Program. So
far the program has concentrated on inventorying, disposal
schedules, microfilming, and operation of the Records Cen-ter.
Little has been done in the areas of records creation,
filing, mailing room procedures, and the like, and such
areas need to be covered in order to make the program
comprehensive and complete.
State Department of Archives and History 15
5. Establishment of an organization of records adminis-trators
of all State agencies. Such an organization could
meet periodically and discuss various problems of records
management, in co-operation with the staff of the Depart-ment's
Records Management program and personnel from
the Department of Administration. An organization of this
kind has functioned among United States government agen-cies
for a number of years, with excellent results.
Historic Sites:
The Historic Sites function was transferred to the De-partment
only very recently, by the General Assembly of
1955. It is believed that a sound foundation has been laid
for one of the best programs in this field in the entire
Nation, but time will be required to develop that program
adequately. It is not possible to take over a historic site,
and then in a few weeks or months to conduct the research
that is essential to any such project, to reconstruct or re-store
historic buildings, to provide necessary public facili-ties,
and otherwise to develop the area as a full-fledged and
complete historic site, such as Mount Vernon or Gettysburg
Battleground. Years are required to perform such a task
satisfactorily.
In the three years since the program was taken over, a
great deal has been accomplished. At present the Depart-ment
directly administers six projects and assists or co-operates
in relation to nine others. The chief needs appear
to be as follows
:
1. To publicize and make known to our people the mean-ing
and scope of the program in the following ways
:
a. Scope. The program does not and was never in-tended
or expected to mean that the State will take over
and maintain or provide financial aid to projects other than
those of national or statewide historical significance. Merely
local projects should be locally financed and administered.
Criteria in this connection have been adopted by the de-partment
and are summarized below.
^
b. Balance. The historic sites developed should illus-
" See below, pp. 35, 36.
16 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
trate the various periods and phases of the history of North
Carolina.
c. Geographical distribution. Insofar as practicable
the various sites should portray the development of the
different areas of the State, from the Atlantic Coast to and
including the mountain region.
2. Educational value. Historic sites are very effective in
bringing alive for school children and adults the heritage
of the past. When the program has been fully developed,
it is expected that the various sites will be visited annually
by hundreds of thousands of persons, children and adults,
who will thus be taught history in a vivid and realistic way.
3. Commercial potential. The development of thousands
of historic sites throughout the Nation has proved beyond
any shadow of doubt that these are major tourist attrac-tions,
and that as such they can yield large financial re-turns,
both in the form of taxes to the State and local units
of government and as profits to businessmen. It has been
stated that if Rockefeller had not restored Colonial Wil-liamsburg,
it would have paid the State of Virginia to do so.
There is a similar great potential in many of the historic
sites in North Carolina.
4. Capital improvements at the sites. There is a pressing
need for capital improvements at the various sites. A typical
historic site consists of a tract of land with historic build-ings
or other features. The problem is to restore, maintain,
and exhibit the property. To meet these requirements a
tyi)ical project needs adequate access roads and i)arking
lots, rest rooms, a museum-reception center building, and
a dwelling house for the full time Historic Site Specialist
in charge. Most of the Department's six projects yet lack
proper development and suitable public facilities. Until
they are adequately developed. North Carolina will not have
the high-standard, well-rounded historic sites program that
is justified and called for by the length, dignity, and signifi-cance
of our history.
Museums:
The museums function is not one of the very oldest of
the Department, but it goes back to the year 1914, when the
Statk Dkpaktment of Archives and History 17
Hall of History (State historical museum) was taken over.
For a long period the emphasis in this field was primarily
on collecting, but within recent years the program has been
shifted to emphasize education and interpretation. Little
collecting has been necessary lately, and the major tasks
have been to inventory, classify, and record the large col-lections
that were acquired earlier and to make proper
selective use of them for exhibits.
The chief needs of the Division of Museums, as indicated
in the report of the Museum Administrator in the pages
below, would seem to lie in the development of the program
along lines that have already been laid out, but which, as
with practically all of the Department's functions, has been
handicapped by lack of sufficient space, equipment, staff,
and funds. Important among these needs are the following,
all within the general field of educational activities:
1. School visitation. Every year tens of thousands of
school children from all parts of the State visit the Hall
of History, the overwhelming majority of them in groups.
For each group requesting it a special program is presented.
During the spring months, especially April, this one func-tion
requires a very large part of the time of the entire
museum staff, disrupting other activities. There is a need
to make arrangements whereby this does not happen, and
also to improve and broaden the program that is presented.
2. School extension. Already, insofar as present resources
will permit, traveling exhibits are sent to the schools, mem-bers
of the staff make talks to school groups, television
school history lessons are presented, and slide programs
with accompanying scripts are i)repared, scheduled, and
mailed to the schools. There are fine possibilities for ex-panding
and improving these various activities.
3. Museum classes. The classes in the museum that have
been given to students within the past few years have
served to illustrate what can be accomplished in this realm.
This program should be greatly expanded.
4. Junior Historian Program. This program was author-ized
by the General Assembly in 1953, but no special appro-priation
for the purpose has ever been made. Present staff
18 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
members, already with full-time duties, have attempted to
carry it on in a limited way, but it should be conducted on
a full-scale basis. Texas, New York, Wisconsin, and other
States of the Union have shown what can be accomplished
in this field.
5. Traveling historical museum. In the past, for several
years, the Department kept in the field a traveling museum
that visited the schools and other public places. Such a
mobile museum can render a great service to the large ma-jority
of school children and others who are not in a position
personally to visit the Hall of History. What can be done
has been shown in Virginia, Florida, Illinois, and other
States. Such a museum on wheels ought to be put back on
the roads of North Carolina.
6. Statewide museum development. The Museum Admin-istrator
and other staff members have done a great deal to
stimulate and assist in the establishment and maintenance
of high-standard historical museums throughout North
Carolina. With adequate resources a great deal more could
and should be done along this line.
7. Public relations. The Hall of History is one of the main
channels through which the Department maintains contact
with the four and one-half million citizens of the State,
seeks to interest and inform them regarding their history.
With sufficient resources, much more could be done to de-velop
a publicity and public relations program.
8. Rounding out exhibits. Among the exhibits now in the
Hall of History, certain phases of our past, especially the
military, seem to have been duly, perhaps unduly, empha-sized.
Other topics appear to deserve more emphasis, par-ticularly
economic history.
9. Rotating exhibits. An up-to-date museum frequently
rotates many of its exhibits. The Hall of History, it is hoped,
can do more of this in the future.
10. Expansion of the program. In general, as indicated
above, the foundations in the Hall of History have been
firmly laid. What is now needed is primarily expansion and
improvement of the program within that broad frame.
State Department ()V Archives and History I'J
Publications:
The act establishing the Historical Commission in 1903
authorized that agency to publish and distribute materials
on North Carolina history. As soon as the Commission be-came
active it began to perform this function, as is indicated
in the report of the Editor below, and has done so ever
since. To date a total of more than 400 publications have
been issued—volumes of documents, numbers of the quar-terly
North Carolina Historical Review (established in
1924), numbers of Carolina Comments (begun in 1952 and
issued every two months) , and charts, pamphlets, and leaf-lets,
especially for school children. These various series of
publications have won national and international recogni-tion,
and the North Carolina program of historical publica-tion
is generally recognized as among the best throughout
the Union. By all means it should be continued.
The major policies that ought to be followed, and needs
of the program, seem to be as follows
:
1. Documentary volumes. To date sixty-six volumes of
documents, calendars or inventories of documents, or other
materials have been issued, and scholars everywhere agree
that these have maintained a high standard of excellence.
Materials for more than a dozen additional volumes are
either ready for the printer or are in various stages of
preparation, and there are such quantities of other material
worthy of publication that this program can and should be
continued for many years to come.
2. Compensation for editors. The editors of the docu-mentary
\olumes listed in the paragraph above spend hun-dreds
and even thousands of hours in the preparation of
each volume, in addition to travel and other expenses.
While the State will hardly be able in the foreseeable future
to pay these editors what their work is actually worth,
nevertheless there ought to be at least an incentive payment
for each volume. This would make it possible for the De-partment
on the one hand to contract more easily with
competent editors and on the other hand to require the very
highest quality of workmanship.
20 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
3. The North Carolina Historical Review. This is recog-nized
as one of the best historical quarterlies in the Nation
and should be carried on. Efforts should be continued to
make the magazine as attractive and readable as possible
without sacrifice of scholarly quality. The Editorial Board
of The Revieiv should be compensated for their services, as
was done before the economic depression of the 1930's.
4. Carolina Comments. This newsletter covering histori-cal
activities in the State has done much to stimulate inter-est
in the field and to coordinate various efforts and pro-grams.
By all means it should be continued.
5. Pamphlets and leaflets. These are intended and de-signed
to be popular publications, useful especially to stu-dents
in the State's elementary and high schools. For several
years, without sacrificing or harming in any way the other
phases of the publication program, more emphasis has been
placed on publishing this type of material, and it is believed
that this policy and practice should continue to be followed.
The reports of the divisions and the appendixes that
follow give detailed information regarding the fine record
of achievement of the past two years.
DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPTS
H. G. Jones, State Archivist
The Division of Archives and Manuscripts consists of
two closely related but physically separated sections—the
Archives proper and the Records Management Program.
Significant accomplishments have been made during the
past two years in both sections : in the acceleration of acces-sioning,
preserving, and administering public and private
papers, and of inventorying, scheduling, microfilming, and
storing records of state agencies.
During the biennium emphasis in the Archives was placed
on bringing under control vast quantities of records already
in the Department, and in this respect the following report
will give evidence of steady progress. Attention in the
Records Management section was given to consolidating
and strengthening the program which, during the biennium,
"came of age" by extending its services to most of the
larger state agencies and by improving both procedures
and efficiency.
The Archives, under direct supervision of the State
Archivist, and the Records Management Program, under
immediate charge of Mrs. Fannie Memory Blackwelder,
Records Center Supervisor, will be discussed separately
below.
The Archives
Someone has said that an administrator often measures
progress from the moment that he assumes responsibility
over a particular program. If, therefore, this report should
have a much more optimistic tone than the report of two
years ago, it is hoped that such a result will be only par-tially
due to that adage.
Progress has been marked in certain areas of the archival
program, considerable in some, and nil in others. Part of
such progress was due to changes in emphasis in adminis-tering
the Division ; some resulted from the employment
of additional staff members ; and some resulted from greater
22 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
efficiency on the part of the staff and the use of better
procedures.
At the outset of the biennium, attention was focused on
the most pressing problem facing the Division : Several
thousand cubic feet of public records and some private col-lections
were stored in the Archives but were unavailable
for public or staff use because they had never been properly
arranged and described. The cause of this backlog was
shortage of staff to do the necessary work. To add to the
internal problem of the Division, the air conditioning system
in the stacks areas had not functioned properly for several
years. This situation, coupled with the fact that the Division
had no janitorial services, had led to conditions that needed
immediate attention.
Madlin FutrcU, PcpartmefU of Archives and History, October 15, 1!)58
Members of the staff of the Archives. (Left to riqht) : Mrs. Rachel R. Robinson,
Miss Mary Carolyn Green, Mrs. Ruth H. Page, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Watkins. Alex M.
Patterson, Mrs. Mary J. Rogers, Houston G. Jones {State Archivist), Mrs. Julia
C. Meconnahey, and Wilbert Hunter.
After twelve months of cutting budget red tape and prod-ding
air conditioning contractors, the air-humidity controls
State Department of Archives and History 23
were made to function properly in the summer of 1957.
At the same time funds were transferred to pay the wages
of a janitor in the Archives.
Meanwhile a report on the needs of the Division was
prepared by the State Archivist and presented first to the
Director and Departmental Advisory Committee, then to the
Executive Board. When the Advisory Budget Commission
failed to recommend any staff increase for the Division, an
appeal was made early in 1957 directly to the Joint Appro-priations
Committee of the General Assembly. This appeal
was supported by the personal appearance of the Director
and State Archivist who displayed examples of improperly
stored and arranged records (as they had previously shown
the Governor during a personal tour through the Archives)
.
The General Assembly responded by authorizing the addi-tion
of three new employees—one Pubhc Records Examiner
and one Archivist I for the Archives, and one Photogra-pher
I to be shared by the Archives and the Hall of History.
The addition of these employees made possible in 1957
the inauguration of a persistent program of bringing under
proper controls the vast quantities of materials already in
the Archives but not available to the public. Although the
Public Records Examiner position was not filled,' funds
for that purpose were used to employ temporary personnel.
While services to the public were not neglected, they were
de-emphasized until such time as the unarranged records
could be made available for researchers. At the end of the
biennium, out of a staff" of nine persons, only the equivalent
of about one and a half persons was assigned to direct and
immediate public service. The rem.ainder were assigned to
the behind-the-scenes work of preparing records groups for
public use. It is to be hoped that this "austerity" program
can be relaxed as personnel needs of the Division are more
nearly met in the future.
In retrospect, tangible improvements can be seen in the
following areas: A large quantity of records groups were
properly arranged and described ; air conditioning and hu-
1 This position was filled after the close of the biennium under review, on AuKust 1,
1958.
24 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
midity controls were put into proi)er working order; a
janitor was employed to carry on a continuous cleaning job
in the Division ; other new employees were added ; the
Laminating Operator was assigned to repair historical rec-ords
in the Archives rather than for another state agency;
two leaflets ("Services to the Public", 1956, and "Historical
Research", 1957) and three form letters for genealogical
answers were printed and distributed through the co-opera-tion
of the Division of Publications ; the handbook, "County
Records in North Carolina : Preservation, Reproduction,
Disposal," was mimeographed and distributed to county
officials ; microfilm cabinets were purchased for the storage
of the film which formerly sat on an open shelf ; new equip-ment
was added in various ofllices ; an additional office was
obtained for use by the Division ; several significant records
groups and private collections were accessioned ; copies of
materials pertinent to North Carolina history were pur-chased
from the National Archives and the Library of Con-gress
; air conditioning units were installed in the Laminat-ing-
County Records Receiving Room and the Microfilm-
Fumigating Room ; floors in the Archives were painted ; and
the County Records Program w^as strengthened.
Accessions: •
During the biennium the Department lost loyal friends in
the deaths of Senator and former Governor W. Kerr Scott,
former Governor R. Gregg Cherry, and former Congress-man
Thurmond Chatham. All three had made unique con-tributions
to the work of the Department, and it was conse-quently
appropriate for the personal papers of these political
leaders to be transferred to the Archives for permanent
preservation. The Cherry Papers constitute the largest and
most comprehensive personal collection in the Department.
The Chatham and Scott papers consist primarily of papers
created during their service in the United States Congress.
All three collections will be closed to the public for ten years.
Other significant personal accessions were the papers of
- For a list of Ai-ohives and Manusrript Accessions, see Appendix VIII. p. 73.
State Department of Archives and History 25
Dr. Clarence Poe and the late Clarence Grittin and Lillian
Dodd.
Large quantities of records were accessioned from Bertie,
Chatham, Cumberland, and Surry counties, and smaller
quantities from other counties. Significant additions on the
state level included materials from the offices of the Gov-ernor,
Attorney General, Auditor, Motor Vehicles Commis-sioner,
and Banking Department.
Control:
Major emphasis during the biennium was placed upon the
processing of large quantities of records already in the
Archives. Gratifying progress has been made in this respect.
Even so, without additional staff the task of gaining control
over the backlog while keeping up with current accessions
will take many years. Among the accomplishments were the
processing of the following groups : the papers of Governor
0. Max Gardner; records of Bertie, Chatham, Cumberland,
Surry, and Wake counties; W. P. A. Writers' Project and
Historical Records Survey materials ; and the personal
papers of Thurmond Chatham, R. Gregg Cherry, and Clar-ence
GrifRn.
Another project completed in co-operation with the Rec-ords
Management staff was the indexing of Civil War pen-sion
applications. This index comprised five typed volumes,
and was also microfilmed and made available to other insti-tutions.
The 107,000-card index to John W. Moore, Roster
of North CaroJirm Troops in the War Between the States,
was microfilmed and approximately a half-dozen libi'aries
purchased copies of the filmed index.
The special agriculture, industry, mortality, and social
statistics schedules of the Censuses of 1850 through 1880
were obtained from the State Library. These valuable orig-inal
records were microfilmed and the originals withdrawn
because of deteriorating condition. A similar procedure was
followed in the case of a number of bulky records such as
tax lists when the originals were in such bad condition that
they could not be used.
26 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Repair and Restoration:
Almost 16,000 pages of manuscript records were lami-nated
during the biennium.'- Attention was given primarily
to county court minutes and the loose legislative papers to
1777, but several other valuable documents were included.
With the co-operation of the Division of Publications the
rebinding of selected volumes in the Archives was resumed.
It is hoped that funds will be available in the future for an
acceleration of this program.
The laminating output was much below normal, partially
because of staff change-overs. With a more experienced
operator and the installation of air conditioning, the pro-duction
should approximately double in the next biennium.
Service to the Public:^
To state a disturbing fact—but not a novel one—the
Archives section is not sufficiently staffed to give the desired
service to the public. Nevertheless, an effort has been made
to provide minimum demands. A total of 5,829 researchers
registered in the Search Room during the biennium, an
increase of 8 per cent over the previous two years. Mail
inquiries answered in the Search Room numbered 5,019, an
increase of 14 per cent. Every State in the Union except
Nevada and North Dakota was represented in these num-bers,
plus Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Canada,
Great Britain, and Mexico. These figures do not include hun-dreds
of visitors in the State Archivist's office and letters
answered directly by him. North Carolina led the list of
States served, followed in order by Texas, Mississippi, Ten-nessee,
Alabama, Georgia, California, and Virginia.
The staff furnished 5,358 photocopies for a return of
$2,815 ; 669 microfilm prints for $429 ; 653 certified copies
for $653; and 4,929 feet of microfilm for $211. Thus the
total income of the Archives section was $4,108. This
" For a list of number of pages laminated, see Appendix XV, p. 98.
' For services rendered by the Division of Archives and Manuscripts, by states and
foreign countries, see Appendix IX, p. 94; for services rendered by the Division of
Archives and Manuscripts, by classification, see Appendix X, p. 95; for the number
of visits to the Search Room for each biennium, 1928-1958, see Appendix XI, p. 95;
for a list of colleges and universities represented by visitors and mail inquirers, see
Appendix XII, p. 96; for a list of topics of research of visitors and mail inquirers,
see Appendix XIII, p. 96; for a list of photographic copies furnished by the Division
of Archives and Manuscripts, see Appendix XIV, p. 98.
State Department of Archives and History 27
amount does not include reproductions made for use in the
Department for which no charge was made.
With the co-operation of Mrs. Frances H. Whitley, a
former employee of the Department, official records of Cas-well,
Craven, Currituck, Franklin, Granville, Northampton,
and Wayne counties were laminated. The Department fur-nishes
the equipment and materials at no cost to the coun-ties
in order to encourage the restoration of valuable rec-ords.
In addition, many private papers were laminated
through this program.
Finally, the State Archivist visited officials in fifteen
counties in connection with their records problems.-^ With
the addition of the position of Public Records Examiner,
this field service will be more readily available in the future.
During the biennium several persons distinguished in
the field of archival science visited the Division to observe
methods and facilities. Included among these were the
archivists of Western Australia, Hawaii, and Canada, and
the Secretary of State of Georgia. The North Carolina De-partment
of Archives and History, which was a pioneer in
the field, continues to be a leader among archival institu-tions
in the United States.
Staff:
In the summer of 1957 the State Archivist attended in
Washington, D. C, the Institute on the Administration and
Preservation of Archives, sponsored jointly by the National
Archives, American University, Library of Congress, and
Maryland Hall of Records. He also observed the archival
programs in Pennsylvania and Georgia and in the United
Nations.
The accomplishments of the Archives section during the
past two years have been made possible through the work
of more than a dozen employees who worked for either a
part or all of the period of this report. Their names are
listed in an appendix. Without an appreciation of his work
and an interest in preserving North Carolina history, an
employee in the Archives will be unhappy as well as of
5 For a list of counties visited by the State Archivist to assist in handlinsr official
records problems, see Appendix XVI, p. 98.
28 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
little use. The Archives section has been fortunate in havin^^
among its employees persons who were committed to their
work and who have taken pride in their accomplishments.
This biennial report will chronicle some of these accom-plishments.
A Program for the Future:
The alleviation of the perpetual problem of insufficient
funds for staff, equipment, and supplies lies only in an
increased public awareness of the importance of the State's
archival institution. Aside from that general problem, the
following programs should be undertaken as time and funds
permit
:
1. The processing of records already in the Archives
should be pursued vigorously to the end that no group
of records is unavailable to the public except where time
restrictions have been placed on them.
2. The transfer of valuable records to the Archives
should be encouraged by State agencies, counties, and mu-nicipalities
when (a) they are no longer needed in the
office of origin; (b) the office of origin cannot adequately
care for them; or (c) their location in a central depository
would best serve the cause of security and research.
3. The Local Records Program should be expanded to
enable the Department to give greater service to county and
municipal officials in their records problems. This can be
done by making more field service available.
4. A microfilming program for security and research pur-poses
should be inaugurated by this Department in the field
of early North Carolina newspapers and county records.
In the case of the newspapers an effort should be made to
film every known copy of every North Carolina newspaper
prior to the Civil War. A county records microfilming pro-gram
should include the copying of all county records ad-judged
to be of permanent value.
5. A continuous effort should be made to improve the
finding aids in the Archives. When these aids have been
put into good shape, a new guide to personal collections, as
well as a description of the official records, should be pub-lished
and made available for public purchase.
State Department op' Archives and History 2!)
6. Finally, the Archives section shares with the remain-der
of the Department an urgent need for a new building.
Within two years all stack areas will be filled, and it will
only be through a great deal of re-arranging that the avail-able
space can be made to last that long. In addition, there
is insufficient work space for the staff, and the Search Room
has become too small to take care of the thousands of vis-itors
in the Archives each year.
Records Management Program
Gratifying progress was made in the Records Manage-ment
Program. Under the able supervision of Mrs. Fannie
Memory Blackv/elder, Records Management Supervisor, the
program was consolidated and strengthened. In 1958 the
Commission on Reorganization of State Government made a
survey of the work which resulted in a report expressing
approval of the program.
An effort was made to systematize the Records Manage-ment
Program. Records which were brought into the Rec-ords
Center when the program was first begun were inven-toried
and a control system was initiated for prompt dis-posal
of obsolete records. The Department's services in
inventorying and scheduling were pubHcized by mimeo-graphed
materials and by a printed leaflet which was dis-tributed
to pubHc officials and to the public at large. A
manual of procedures was written and mimeographed so
that each person on the Records Management staff would
have specific information as to policies and procedures. The
North Carolina statutes regarding records were compiled
and summarized by the Records Center Supervisor.
As a further step in increasing the efficiency of records
management in North Carolina, the Supervisor attended the
Fourth Records Management Institute, sponsored by the
National Archives and the American University, in Wash-ington,
in June, 1957. Two of the archivists attended the
Correspondence Workshop in Raleigh, sponsored by the
National Archives and Records Service, in the fall of 1957.
In February, 1958, the same workshop was given for repre-
30 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Madhn Fiitrdt. T>ri>artmc>it of Ardnrr.f and Hixtory. October Ji, 195S
Members uf the stair of the Kecurds Centei-. ( />i/( to rlyht) Mrs. Elizabeth C. Moss,
Mrs. Bessie W. Bowling, Karl E. Turner, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hilbourn. Claude J.
Henner. Jr., Mrs. Fannie Memor.v Blackwelder {Supervisor) , Leonard Austin, Mrs.
Ethel E. Borchers, and Mrs. Maxie C. Wall.
sentatives of the State agencies under the sponsorship of the
Department of Archives and History.
As a result of better understanding on the part of State
agencies, more and more of them requested the services of
the Department of Archives and History in connection with
their records problems. During the biennium nineteen in-ventories
and administrative histories were completed and
an introductory statement of authorization, making the
schedules the official guides for the handling of records, was
signed by the head of the department creating the records
and by the Director of the Department of Archives and
History.'
There was a vast volume of turnover in records. As in-ventories
of records already in the Records Center were
completed and schedules adopted, much of the material
which had been brought in several years ago without being
1 For a list of administrative histories and inventories completed, see Appendix XVII,
p. 99.
State Department of Archives and History 31
A trained Archivist inventories A skilled opei-ator microfilms
the records of an agency records for a State agency.
Each roll of film is carefully Obsolete records are burned or
checked for errors shredded
under schedule was declared obsolete and was destroyed.
During the biennium 7,480 cubic feet of records were
brought in and 6,667 cubic feet went out, a net gain of 813
cubic feet. Records were admitted from twenty-three agen-cies,
and twenty-four departments and agencies had records
removed from the Records Center. Some of the records
which were removed were sent to the Archives, some
were microfilmed before being destroyed, and others were
destroyed when they became obsolete under established
schedules.^
^ For a list of records turnover at Record Center (in cubic feet), see Appendix XIX,
p. 100.
32 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Some schedules provide that records be "weeded" before
they are destroyed to assure that records of historical or
research value will be preserved. During the biennium
records of nine agencies were weeded.
As in other phases of the program, the amount of
microfilming done for State agencies increased. The Rec-ords
Center staff photographed 9,803,385 images for sixteen
agencies. The four persons assigned to the microfilm project
did most of the filming on rotary cameras, using 16mm film.
In most cases a copy of the film was sent to the agency
creating the records and a duplicate security copy was
retained at the Records Center.'-
The staff continued to service records for agencies asking
for information from their files at the Records Center. Ten
agencies requested service a total of 742 times. By far the
greatest number of requests, 663, came from the Depart-ment
of Motor Vehicles. Representatives of sixteen agencies
came to the Records Center 1,250 times to use their own
records.
Physical improvements were made which have increased
the efficiency of the Records Management Program. A
shredding machine was purchased so that confidential ma-terials
could be completely obliterated before being sold. A
major forward step was the purchase of the microfilming
equipment. The Recordak RM machines, which had been
rented for approximately a year, were purchased as second-hand
machines in the summer of 1957. A new microfilm
reader, with interchangeable lenses, was purchased in the
spring of 1958.
Other physical improvements included the purchase of
new desks for the archivists and a coat of paint for the
desks used by the microfilmers. The office space was painted.
Concrete seal was applied to the floors in an effort to control
the dust. There was no water available in the Records
Center prior to the summer of 1956. A lavatory was in-stalled
at that time, and a rest room was completed in
the summer of 1958.
A hearing liefore the Commission on Reorganization of
^ For a list of state recoiils miciofilmed, including agencies, images, and reels, see
Appendix XVIII, p. 99.
State Department of Archives and History H'd
State Government in May, 1958, enabled the Department to
point out some of the needs of the Records Management
Program. In touring the Records Center the Commission
members not only learned what activities were included in
the program but were able to see some of the problems
which must be faced in the near future.
One of the most acute problems is the need for additional
space. As the biennium closed, plans were being made to
convert from filing cabinets to shelving in one large room
at the Records Center. It is estimated that the shelving-corrugated
box combination throughout the stack areas
will make possible the filing of nearly twice as many records
as are now in the Records Center. The change-over is being
planned with the co-operation of the Department of Ad-ministration.
In looking toward the future, it seems inevitable that
shelving will have to be installed throughout the Records
Center in order to provide space for records already sched-uled
to come in. Though shelving will nearly double the
capacity, either expansion into the entire building or a move
to a larger building will ultimately be necessary in order to
take care of the increasing volume of records.
Many agencies which need help with records problems
are not yet participating in the Records Management Pro-gram.
These departments should take part in the program,
and eventually branch offices of State agencies should be
given assistance. Requests for this type of service have
been turned down so far because of the tremendous amount
of work to be done with State offices located in Raleigh and
because of lack of staff".
Consideration should also be given to expansion into all
phases of records management. Concentration has been on
inventorying and adoption of disposal schedules, microfilm-ing,
and the operation of the Records Center, but almost
nothing has been done in the line of creation of records, in
file and mail room procedures, and other such activities
recognized as features of a complete Records Management
Program. Whether or not expansion in this direction should
l)e cariied out is a question still unanswered, but one which
will need to be faced in future months.
DIVISION OF HISTORIC SITES
William S. Tarlton, Historic Sites Superintendent
The basic purpose of the Historic Sites Program is the
conservation and development of historic site properties for
public use. This purpose is the same as that which under-lies
Federal and State park programs, fish and wildlife
protection, and most other conservation programs. Selected
properties that have significant historical importance are
acquired by purchase or donation and brought into the pro-gram.
Then they are restored, protected, and improved for
the educational and inspirational use—and for the sheer
enjoyment—of the people of North Carolina and of visitors.
In developing historic properties, full use is made of
regular professional methods and scholarship, but the end
achievement is designed for the general public, not just the
professionals. Constant efforts are made to avoid narrowly
antiquarian and specialized viewpoints that have little
meaning, and are sometimes actually revolting, to the
general run of intelligent people. Taking the authentic
substance of historj' (insisting always on authenticity in
every matter of history) , we apply to it the lessons of public
interest and need, as well as old fashioned showmanship,
in an effort to create an effective means of introducing all
the people of North Carolina to a consciousness and appreci-ation
of their history.
At the present time the Department's Historic Sites
Program proper consists of eight properties. Six of these
are administered directly by the Department through the
Historic Sites Division. The other two projects, smaller in
scope, are operated by local organizations under contract.
In addition to these eight, there are six other projects,
sponsored by local or special organizations, to which the
Department has given advisory assistance and financial
aid from funds appropriated for the purpose. Finally, there
is the Tryon Palace Restoration, administered by the Tryon
Palace Commission, which the Department assists in vari-ous
ways, including the handling of fiscal accounts and
budgetary matters.
State Department of Archives and History 35
To summarize, through the Historic Sites Division the
Department at the present time administers six projects
and exercises a substantial interest in nine others—a total
of fifteen projects. During the 1957-1959 biennium the
Department has a budget, from state appropriations, of
approximately $217,000 for the Historic Sites Program,
excluding about $45,000 for Tryon Palace.
Selection Criteria:
All properties acquired for development by the State, or
to which grants in aid are made available by the State,
should measure up to criteria adopted at the beginning to
guide the entire program. Some of the most important of
these are as follows:
(1) Historic properties should possess statewide or na-tional
historical significance, not merely local. This is the
most important criterion of all and it usually rules in ac-quisitions.
This requirement means that properties should
be connected with important events, persons, or movements
or typify important segments of North Carolina history,
and that they should bear a significant relationship to other
projects in the program. In acquisitions, preference is given
in cases where original structures or other physical remains
are present.
(2) Properties should conform to reasonable require-ments
of financing, maintenance, and accessibility. Prefer-ence
is given where local and private financial assistance is
offered, and where accessibility and freedom from undesir-able
encroachment (as by commercial and industrial de-velopment)
are present. Properties should also have ade-quate
boundaries for the protection of historical values
against future encroachment.
Application of these standards to site acquisitions has
resulted in a state wide program of historic properties
which is representative of the entire span of our history
and which is distributed geographically. These projects are
scattered over the entire State from the seashore to the
mountains. They represent periods from early colonial his-tory
all the way down to the twentieth century. They repre-sent
aboriginal Indian, military, political, educational,
3(5 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Madlin Futrell, Dcparlmerd of Archives and History, October IJ,, 195S
Members of the staff of the Historic Sites Division. (Left to right) R. Judson
Mitchell. Richard W. Sawyer, Jr., Mrs. Barbara L. Walls, A. L. Honeycutt, Jr.,
and William S. Tarlton (Superintendent of Historic Sites). Stanley A. South and
David S. Phelps, also members of the staff, are not shown.
village, and agricultural aspects of North Carolina history.
Several of them, in addition, illustrate the importance of
individual great men and events.
A comprehensive state program has therefore been out-lined.
The chief need at present is to fill out this program
by the proper development of the individual site projects.
This calls especially for capital improvements—the restora-tion
of historic structures and remains and the construction
of museum buildings, dwelling houses for personnel in
charge of the projects, access roads and parking lots, land-scaping,
and rest room and picnic facilities.
Progress in Developing the Site P}'()jects:
(1) Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site, located
near Smithfield, Johnston County. In 1957 a property of
fifty-one acres, including the historic Harper House (Con-federate
Hospital), the Confederate Cemetery, and lines of
State Department of Archives and History 37
earthworks was acquired in the lar^e 6,000-acre battlefield.
Since that time historical research and planning have been
carried forward, repairs have been made to the Harper
House and the outbuildings, and a temporary museum pro-gram
has been established. Plans have also been made to
mark the entire battlefield area and arrangements have
been completed to keep the Harper House open on Sunday
afternoons. Among the chief needs for the future are com-plete
repair and restoration of the Harper House and out-buildings,
improvement of the Confederate Cemetery, prep-aration
for proper exhibit of historic battlefield earthworks,
and the construction of a museum center and other facilities
of public use.
The Battle of Bentonville, fought in March, 1865, by
Confederate forces under General Joseph E. Johnston and
Federal forces under General William T. Sherman, was the
largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on the soil of North
Carolina and was a battle of important consequences in the
last phase of the Civil War. A direct consequence of the
failure of Johnston to stop the northward march of Sher-man's
forces was the surrender in April, 1865, of Johnston's
Confederate Army near the present city of Durham. The
significance of this battle justifies development of the site
as one of the major projects in the State's over-all program.
All efi"orts will be made to complete the project before the
centennial year, 1965.
(2) Charles B. Aycock Birthplace Historic Site, located
near Goldsboro in Wayne County. In 1958 additional land
was acquired, bringing the total area of the project to
ten acres. Four of the historic Aycock buildings, including
the dwelling house, have been purchased and moved to their
original site on the State-owned land and architectural plans
and specifications have been prepared for their restoration.
During the next biennium it is expected that the restoration
and landscaping will be completed, access roads and park-ing
facilities provided, and a dwelling house constructed
for the Historic Site Specialist in charge.
Governor Aycock by common consent was one of the
great governors of North Carolina. Plans are being made
to erect a museum building to house special exhibits illu-
r,8 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Dan n \l(u Milhui anil Uso,
Architect's (hawing- for the Chailes H. Ayeock liii'thplace,
'< s, Oitotur H, 195.<i
State Historic Site.
strating- his public career and his contributions to the cause
of public education in North Carolina. The birthplace itself
will be restored to the period of Aycock's birth, 1859, and
will be made to reflect his family and childhood surround-ings.
The museum is necessary as a means, apart from the
birthplace restoration, to deal with the later career of this
great North Carohnian. In other words, the over-all de-velopment
will at the same time contrast and draw together
early family background and later political career. It is
appropriate that the restoration be completed in time to
be formally opened on the one hundredth anniversary of his
birth, November, 1959. Efforts are being made to meet this
schedule.
(3) Brunswick Town State Historic Site, located on the
lower Cape Fear River in Brunswick County. This area of
120 acres contains the site and the remains of the colonial
town of Brunswick, a thriving river port in the middle
eighteenth century, which was destroyed during and just
following the Revolution. The town site proper comprises
State Department of Archives and History fiO
about thirty acres. In 1958 the site has been cleared of
heavy undergrowth and an archeological survey completed.
Now excavation of selected sites is underway, with results
that are already spectacular. The plan of development for
Brunswick Town envisions the excavation of large sample
areas of the town, the exhibition of typical building founda-tions,
streets, and water front sites, exhibition of the im-pressive
ruins of colonial St. Philips Church and the colonial
graveyard, and the development of a museum program
which will exhibit many of the objects taken during excava-tion
and adequately portray the whole history of the site.
Brunswick Town is recognized as one of the richest sites
for colonial archeology on the entire east coast of the United
States. It is a major project in the over-all state program.
(4) Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site,
Montgomery County. This project of about fifty acres, cen-tering
around the site of an early Muskogean Indian village,
continues to be developed as an archeological research
activity and as a large scale restoration of the Indian
structures. The reconstruction is now about 50 per cent
complete. The temple has been completed, a fortified under-ground
entrance from the river has been restored, and
several burial and other structures are at present under
construction. The temporary museum has been improved
and plans projected for a permanent museum building. A
dwelling house for the Historic Site Specialist in charge is
authorized for construction during the current biennium.
Electrical service is being installed and the county road giv-ing
access to the project from North Carolina Highway 73
is being paved.
(5) Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, located
near Burlington, Alamance County. This property of about
fifty acres contains the battlefield on which the Colonial
Mihtia, commanded by Royal Governor WilHam Tryon, met
and defeated the Regulators, May 16, 1771. Historical re-search
on the battle is being continued preparatory to mark-ing
the field more extensively and establishing a museum
program. A permanent museum has been authorized and
$15,000 (nearly half the total cost) appropriated by the
General Assembly, An equal sum has been raised locally
40 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
from private donations. It is expected that the building
will be erected next year. The finished project at Alamance
Battleground will feature two things : exhibit of the battle-field
through extensive marking of sites and a museum pro-gram
on the "War of the Regulation" and the battle which
brought it to a close.
(6) The Zebulon Baird Vance Birthplace State Historic
Site, located near Asheville, Buncombe County. The Vance
house and three acres of ground were acquired in 1957. An
architect currently is drawing plans and specifications for
the restoration. With the nearly $8,000 available from State
appropriations and $16,000 from local sources, it is expect-ed
that the restoration will be completed within the near
future. Following restoration and furnishing of the birth-place,
it is planned that a museum building will be erected
and a permanent museum program illustrating Governor
Vance's public career established. It is also hoped that funds
for operating the project, including salary for a Historic
Site Specialist who will be in charge, will be made available.
The two State-owned projects administered locally under
contract with the Department are the James Iredell House,
located at Edenton, and the House in the Horseshoe (Alston
House) , located near Carthage, Moore County. The Iredell
House has been partially restored and furnished by the
James Iredell House Association and the House in the
Horseshoe completely so by the Moore County Historical
Association. Further restoration of the Iredell House is
currently in process.
Co-opeiritiov :
Projects which the Department has aided either finan-cially
or technically, or both, are
:
(1) Person's Ordinary, located at Littleton, Warren-
Halifax counties. This colonial tavern is receiving $4,000
in aid and continuing advisory help.
(2) Historic Halifax, Halifax County. This colonial vil-lage
restoration project is receiving $6,000 in grants in aid
and technical assistance.
(3) Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, Catawba County. Re-ceiving
$400 and advisory assistance this biennium. This
State Department of Archives and History 41
is one of the three surviving- covered bridges iii North Caro-lina
and the only one so far which is being preserved as
a public exhibit.
(4) Calvin Jones House, located at Wake Forest, Wake
County. This early nineteenth century farmhouse is the
building in v^hich Wake Forest College, now located at
Winston-Salem, was opened in 1834. The project receives
continuing advisory assistance from the Department.
(5) Governor Richard Caswell Memorial, located at
Kinston, Lenoir County. A special State Commission is
planning a museum and site program at the grave of Gover-nor
Caswell, the first governor of North Carolina after In-dependence.
This project is receiving $25,000 and advisory
assistance.
(6) The James K. Polk Birthplace, near Charlotte, Meck-lenburg
County. Local organizations are undertaking the
reconstruction of the log house in which President Polk was
born in 1795. The Department has $7,500 for the project
and is g-iving technical and advisory assistance.
(7) Tryon Palace, New Bern. The Department handles
accounts and the budget and readers continuing advisory
assistance on historical and operational matters.
Historical Highivay Marker P)-ogram:
Due to the fact that funds were not available to employ
a full-time researcher, the Marker Program was not em-phasized.
No new markers were authorized. Twenty plaques
previously authorized were erected, ' a number of replace-ments
for markers broken or lost were ordered, and other
routine maintenance was kept up. A temporary researcher
in the summer of 1958 processed some sixty marker sub-jects
which, it is expected, will be taken up by the advisory
committee within the near future.
Future Needs:
The compelling great need in the Historic Sites Program
in the years immediately ahead is for better financing,
particularly for capital improvements. This need will not
be met until it is generally realized that the program is not
^ For a list of new highway historical markers erected, see Appendix XX, p. 101.
42 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
an office program, but rather a field program of large and
widespread dimensions, consisting of real estate which
needs to be developed for large-scale public use. Public use
of historic areas, as for any other type of public parks,
requires physical facilities of various types for the recep-tion
and proper handling of the public.
As yet some of the historic projects do not have such
basic facilities as drinking water and rest rooms of any
sort. Two as yet have no sort of parking space or convenient
access. Only one of the six projects in the basic program
has funds for the necessary dwelling house for the Historic
Site Specialist in charge. All six must have well-rounded
physical development before they can be utilized by the
public to the extent that the investments already made will
pay a return in educational benefits and in tourist dollars.
Yet the tourist potential which may be tapped is tremen-dous.
Capital improvement needs for the immediate future
total $379,000. This comparatively small sum will provide
five major buildings (reception center-museums), five dwel-ling
houses which will be self-liquidating, and other neces-sary
facilities that will bring six of North Carolina's major
historic areas to full public usefulness.
If this single major need is met, it is felt that North
Carolina's Historic Sites Program will emerge in the few
years ahead as one of the best in the entire country from
the standpoint of selectivity, scope, geographical distribu-tion,
and general appeal. The basic program as already es-tablished
has that potential.
DIVISION OF MUSEUMS
Mrs. Joye E. Jordan, Museum Administrator
In presenting an account of the work of the Division of
Museums for the biennium just completed, the Division is
inviting a close examination of its activities and accom-plishments.
Nov^' as never before, history is salable. It is
the responsibility of the State history museum to take ad-vantage
of this upsurge of interest where and when it
presents an opportunity to further the knowledge and ap-preciation
of North Carolina history.
This report will note improvement in a majority of the
phases of the work. Regrettably, other phases have had
to come to a standstill with little or no progress made. The
staff will welcome suggestions which will aid in its effort
to serve the citizens of the State whether by more effective
exhibits, more extensive publications, closer work with
allied organizations, more detailed instruction for school
groups, or any other facet of the museum's responsibility.
Exhibits
One sign that a new concept of the function of a history
museum is coming into being is the more modern display
of historical items. The history museum that is striving to
serve its community sees to it that each exhibit contributes
not only to the knowledge of the subject it is illustrating
but to the artistic and aesthetic sense of the viewer as well.
Oftentimes one object well displayed attracts more atten-tion
than an entire collection. This means that a great deal
of research and planning must go into each individual dis-play
since the smaller the number of items used, the more
carefully each must be presented.
Handicapped as the museum has been with very limited
funds for improving exhibits, some progress can be re-corded
in the modernization of the methods employed.
A distinction is made between permanent and temporary
or special exhibits. An exhibit on display for not more than
a year is classified as special. Anything over a year is classi-fied
as permanent. The special exhibits seldom remain on
44 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
display for more than a Tew months, while some few of the
permanent exhibits are retained for a number of years,
usually with renovations and changes being made from
time to time.
Permanent Exhibits:
An early school room exhibit containing desks, books,
benches, a stove, inkwells, and other school room items was
prepared in co-operation with the Social Studies Section
of the North Carolina Education Association as a part of
their 100th anniversary celebration.
A case exhibit entitled Roanoke Island History serves as
a memorial to Alexander Mathis, author of The Lost Cita-del,
a book with a Roanoke Island setting.
Two cases on colonial history, one titled "Religion" and
Maiilin l-'ntrill, I >< partment of Archives and History, October 15, 195S
Members of the staflE of the Hall of History. (Left to right) front row: Mrs. Julia
S. Cole and Mrs. Barbara McK. Shultz; back row: Mrs. Joye E. Jordan (Museums
Administrator), Norman C. Larson, John D. Ellington, and Marvin K. Rogers.
State Department of Archives and History 45
the other "Childhood," were added to the Colonial and
Revolutionary Room.
The Allen Kitchen has been cleaned, renovated, repaired,
landscaped, and planted. A Junior League volunteer com-pleted
the curtains for the kitchen.
An exhibit on "Moravian Crafts," displaying articles
used in the Wachovia settlement in the eighteenth and early
nineteenth centuries, was placed on display commemorating
the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Moravian
Church.
A complete renovation, including new models of a surrey
and a buggy and new backgrounds for all of the dioramas,
was made in the Olds Memorial Gallery.
Special Exhibits:
The Portrait Gallery has proven to be the most flexible
space available in the museum. As a result, it is used for
Km Cooler. The Ralfigh Timrx, October 11, 1958
Mrs Julia S Ck- in Ihc Allen KiU-he.i. datinR from about I.S'IO, KJveri to the State
iiy the Huntley family in memoiy of their mother, Mrs. Mary Allen Huntley, moved
fiom Wadesboro in 1<).5G, and located diagonally across Salisbury Street from the
Hall of History.
46 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
many of the exhibits of a temporary nature. Six exhibits,
varying widely in content, have occupied this space during
the past biennium.
At the beginning of the biennium, portraits of doctors
and dentists who pioneered in the health program of the
State were placed in this gallery. This was followed by an
exhibit of work done by the Junior Historian Club of Jose-phus
Daniels Junior High School in connection with a pro-gram
on legends and folklore of North Carolina which they
held in the Assembly Room.
When this exhibit was removed, it was replaced by a
display of the print winners of the Southern Short Course
in Press Photography, sponsored by the Carolina Press
Photographers Association. After three weeks, this in turn
was replaced by an exhibit titled "Know Your Historic
Sites" which showed photographs and gave some back-ground
information on many of the buildings and battle-grounds
that are now being preserved by the State or
allied organizations.
Items completed by the Hall of History Craft Class were
on display for several months.
At present the gallery contains an exhibit of materials
depicting the life of R. Gregg Cherry. This material was
selected from the private collection of Cherry papers which
was placed with the Department.
With minor changes, the museum was able to utilize one
background for three exhibits on gowns. First, "The Hall
of History's Collection of Gowns worn by North Carolina's
First Ladies" was formally opened as a part of the In-augural
Ceremonies of Governor Luther H. Hodges, Feb-ruary
6, 1957. Presented next was "The Hall of History's
Collection of Wedding Dresses." This was followed by
"Spring Fashions Through the Ages."
Each year an old-fashioned Christmas exhibit with a
tree, toys, Christmas stockings, and a family scene is placed
in the Blount Room.
State Department of Archives and History 47
Accessions: ^
A special effort was made during the biennium to collect
gowns which were worn by the wives of North Carolina's
governors. This collection now numbers fourteen gowns,
most of which were the First Ladies' Inaugural Ball gowns.
Several items which had belonged to Governor and Mrs.
W. W. Holden were placed with the Department. These in-clude
china, glassware, and wearing apparel.
Other accessions of note were items from the collections
of R. Gregg Cherry and of Thurmond Chatham, four North
Carolina rifles, an early Columbia bicycle, a camera collec-tion
which was started during the biennium, and several
large collections of costumes, household items, and toys.
Education
The Division of Museums has four distinct phases to its
education program : school visitation, school extension, mu-seum
classes, and the Junior Historian program. A brief
resume of each may give a clear over-all picture of what has
been done and some of the problems that had to be met
during the biennium.
School Visitatio)i :
-
The statistics for school visitation are in themselves so
overwhelming that little more need be said. For the school
year 1956-1957, the total number of registered groups was
899; the total number of students was 37,808. For 1957-
1958, the total number of groups was 761, and the total
number of students was 33,639, making a grand total of
71,447 for the biennium. "Registered groups" means that
this total number of students was given some sort of pro-gram
or instruction when they came to the museum. There
are always a number of groups which come and simply "go
through," to quote their teachers. Legislative years always
mean that we have students coming in larger numbers than
in the second year of the biennium as these figures show.
April is the peak month. For April, 1957, 314 groups total-
^ For a list of Museum Items accessioned, see Appendix XXII, p. 1015.
~ For a list of the registration at the Hall of History, by State and foreign
country, see Appendix XXI. p. 101.
48 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Refout
ing 13,045 students visited, and for April, 1958, it was 827
groups with a total of 15,604 students. There is no set
number in a school group. They run anywhere from 20 to
250—currently averaging 48 each. These figures indicate
why it is essential during the spring months that all muse-um
activities except the ones that simply m.ust be kept
current come to a standstill in order that the entire staff
may devote its time to school groups.
Mimeographed guides and workbooks which present back-ground
information for the period or subject of each gallery
were prepared and distributed for the use of school children.
School Extension:
Even though from the museum point of view school visita-tion
is quite heavy, on a percentage basis only a small
fraction of the students in North Carolina have the privilege
of visiting the m.useum in Raleigh. The school extension
program is planned to make a start at meeting the need of
this vast number of students who cannot come to the muse-um
by having the information go out to them.
The program for the past two years included
:
The preparation of a traveling exhibit on the subject of
North Carolina Indians.
Talks to school groups by members of the staff.
A North Carolina history lesson based on material in the
Hall of History correlated to the United States History
school series being presented by Miss Lois Ettinger over
WUNC-TV, May 12, 1958. A kinescope recording was made
of the program so that it can be made available to other
groups.
Slide programs and accompanying scripts were scheduled
and mailed to teachers and organizations throughout the
State. The programs included the following subjects : Early
Architecture of North Carolina ; The Cherokee Indians,
Their Myths and Legends ; Fort Macon ; Historic Sites of
North Carolina; Ladies' P'ashions from 1790 to the Present;
"The Lost Colony" ; Moravian Settlements in North Caro-lina;
North Carolina Pottery and Wedgwood China;
State Department of Archives and History 4<J
Raleigh, the Capital City ; Tar Heel Mysteries and Legends
;
and "Unto These Hills."
Museum Classes:
The Craft Class which is conducted for eighth grade
students interested in early crafts practiced in North Caro-lina
met weekly from October through May for the school
year 1956-1957. The two-hour class is instructed by the
Exhibits Curator. Students devote their time to the study
of early design in pottery, weaving, quilt making, and folk
art. Examples of their work were placed on display at the
close of the course.
The Division of Museums participated in the program
offered to history majors from Meredith College. During
the year 1957-1958, five students completed the 150 hours
of work required for the course in museum practices.
The Tarheel Junior Historian Prog)-ain:
The Tarheel Junior Historian Association will be handi-capped
until a full-time staff member can be provided to
conduct the program. During this biennium, the work was
carried on rather ineffectively with the time that could be
spared from three other positions, namely the Museum Ad-ministrator,
the Education Curator, and the Stenographer-
Clerk. While the work done by individual clubs was im-proved,
unfortunately many clubs fell by the wayside from
lack of attention so that for the year 1956-1957 the Associa-tion
had only thirty clubs. Instead of an increase, the year
1957-1958 showed the loss of still another club so that the
biennium closed with only twenty-nine clubs with a total
membership of 1,261. With adequate supervision the As-sociation
should have at least seven or eight hundred clubs
within the State.
Photography
Photographs and negatives from the museum's collection
are used extensively throughout the State. Writers, pub-lishers,
newspapermen, T. V. program directors, and even
other photographers make frequent demands for items
depicting earlier times. Prints are furnished to illustrate
a number of the Department's publications as well as for use
50 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
in exhibits both in the Hall of History and for other muse-ums
throughout the State. The E. L. M. film which supple-ments
the North Carolina eighth-grade history text was
completed. Some four or five hundred photographs from
the collection were used for this purpose.
One new slide program, ''Raleigh, the Capital City," has
been added to the kodachrome slide series used as a part
of the museum's extension service. Slides have been pre-pared
for another program, "Early Quilt Patterns."
The photographing of the Tryon Palace collection of
furnishings is well under way. Each item is photographed
as a part of the accession file.
Proof that it was essential to employ a full-time photo-grapher
for the Department is evident in the increases
shown for both negatives and prints. In 1956-1957 with
a staff member devoting such time as could be spared to the
work, seventy-five negatives and 678 prints were made.
During 1957-1958, the photographer made 1,348 negatives
and 3.226 glossy prints.
Co-operation with Other Organizations
As employees of the State government, the staff of the
Museums Division is called upon to serve in many capacities
other than just within the four walls cf the museum. The
requests come from local museums, celebration committees,
professional groups, patriotic organizations, and people
in the public relations field. Added to this are the many re-quests
from other State agencies. In reporting on this phase
of the work, only the more time-consuming projects will
be mentioned.
Other Museums:
The Hall of History staff has served in an advisory
capacity at one time or another to most of the museums
dealing with history in the State. During this biennium,
more tim.e has been devoted to Tryon Palace and the
Andrew Johnson Birthplace than to any of the others. The
Andrew Johnson Birthplace has been completely renovated
in the past two years under the direction of the Museum
Administrator as Chairman of the Andrew Johnson Me-
State Department of Archives and History 51
morial Commission of the City of Raleigh. The major part
of the building and furnishing of Tryon Palace has been
completed in the same length of time. On this project the
work has been in the area of museum techniques : accession-ing
and cataloging of artifacts and furnishings, photo-graphing
furnishings, and advising on museum problems
in general. Other museums which have requested and re-ceived
information and assistance are The Rowan Museum,
Greensboro Children's Museum, Greensboro Historical Mu-seum,
New Bern Fireman's Museum, Orange County His-torical
Museum, and the House in the Horseshoe.
Celeb}-atio}is:
Each year several North Carolina counties and munici-palities
conduct celebrations to commemorate events signifi-cant
in their history. In many cases the Department assists
the local committee in making plans for the celebration.
During the past year the staff worked with the Greensboro
Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was held May 2-10,
1958, and at present is w-orking with the Andrew Johnson
Day Committee for the celebration of the 150th anniversary
of the birth of Andrew Johnson.
Professional Orgunizations:
Members of the staff attended the Southeastern Museums
Conference meetings held during the biennium : 1956, Wil-liamsburg,
Virginia, and 1957, Gainesville, Florida. The
Museum Administrator continues to serve as Secretary-
Treasurer of the organization.
The session, "Historic Housekeeping," held at Coopers-town,
New York, September 23-29. 1956, was attended by a
member of the museum staff and the Museum Administrator,
who had been invited as a member of the faculty.
Staff members attended the American Association of
Museums meeting held in Lincoln, Nebraska, in May, 1957,
and in Charleston, South Carolina, in April, 1958.
The Museum Administrator served on the program of
the Fourth Museum Educators' Conference. Jacksonville,
Florida, December 5-9, 1956, and the Fifth Annual Social
52 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Studies Conference, January 24-25, 1958, at Duke Uni-versity.
Radio, TV, Publications:
Participation in this area of the work by members of
the museum staff includes the following:
The Museum Administrator is Chairman of the Fine Arts
Programming Council for WRAL-TV ; the Division partici-pated
in the Department's program for the ''Affairs of
State" series on WUNC-TV; the Museum Administrator
was a guest on the Peggy Mann Show on WTVD ; several
members of the staff appeared on the Harriet Pressly show
on WPTF radio; the Museum Administrator and the Ed-ucation
Curator wrote two articles, "The Hall of History"
and "The Andrew Johnson Birthplace," for North Carolina
Education.
Receptions and Other Special Events:
A number of receptions and fashion shows were held in
connection with exhibition openings and commemorations.
A list of these functions includes : a reception for the Sir
Walter Cabinet; a fashion show for the Auxiliary of the
North Carolina Engineers' Society; a movie titled "The
Battle of Gettysburg" for the Johnston-Pettigrew Chapter of
the United Daughters of the Confederacy ; a fashion show
and a tour of the Birthplace of Andrew Johnson for the
North Carolina State convention of the Daughters of the
American Revolution ; and programs for book clubs, Daugh-ters
of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the
Confederacy, Children of the Confederacy, and the Colonial
Dames of the Seventeenth Century.
Chief Needs
The main purpose of the Museums Division is to advance
the cause of history throughout the State. As a State muse-um,
emphasis is laid on presenting knowledge on the mili-tary,
political, social, economic, and other facets of the life
of the people who made North Carolina history.
This is the day of long-range planning in many fields,
yet it is still true that any objective that will arouse the
State Department of Archives and History 53
loudest hue and cr\' is serxed first in our State g-overnnieiii.
For the Museums Division the hue and cry could be raised
justifiably for a number of goals, but among the major
needs are
:
1. Economic Exhibits. The Hall of History has done less
in presenting the economic history of the State than in any
of the other areas. Military history would probably rank
first, social second, and political third with very little atten-tion
being given to the history of industry or agriculture.
Exhibits should be prepared on four or five of the leading
industries such as cotton, tobacco, furniture, and fishing,
if no others.
2. Rotating exhibits. Since space is limited in the Hall of
History, an over-all plan and schedule for the rotation of the
exhibits would mean that more items from the museum's
collection could be displayed from time to time. Even though
this policy is in effect to a certain extent, there is always
the tendency to keep the more important items on display
at all times, to the exclusion of many others.
3. The Junior Historian Program. As a part of the ex-tension
service of the museum, the Junior Historian pro-gram
needs to be expanded. Last April over 13,000 eighth
graders visited the Hall of History, indicating that they had
some interest in their local history. Of this number, not
more than 1,300 were members of the Tarheel Junior His-torian
Association. By extending the work of the Junior
Historians, it would be possible to provide some guidance
and supervision of the study of local history to the thou-sands
of students who are not reached at present.
DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS
D. L. Corbitt, Editor
In 1956, when the Department changed its policy of
distributing its publications and at the same time raised
the subscription price to The North Carolina Historical
Review from $2.00 to $3.00 per year and advanced the
price for its documentary volumes from $1.00 to $3.00 per
volume, it was thought that there would be changes in
the quantity of publications distributed. Prior to the time
it changed its policy, the Department did not mail pam-phlets,
leaflets, charts, and maps to school children. With
the new policy, whereby school children can purchase any
or all items, the distribution has increased in volume. The
Department, during the biennium, made available to stu-dents
of the public schools a list of approximately fourteen
items, some of which were free and some available for a
nominal fee. All of the items individually totaled $1.75 but
for $1.00 a kit containing one copy of each was available to
those who would apply for it. The postage on these kits
averaged more than thirty cents per kit. The Department
was, therefore, distributing such materials at less than
seventy five cents below the regular price if the items were
sold separately. By this policy the Department is able to
serve better the schools and at the same time obtain a wider
distribution.
The Department is constantly preparing new materials
for publication, always keeping in mind that the law makes
it obligatory to publish and to distribute materials per-taining
to the history of the State. The Department en-deavors
to serve scholars and laymen, teachers and stu-dents—
all persons in the State.
The State Textbook Commission has placed another
volume issued by this Department on its recommended
reading list. The two previous volumes which are continued
on the list are The Carolina Charter of 1663 and Explora-tions,
Descriptions, and Attempted Settleynents of Carolina,
158A-1590. During this biennium The Governors of North
Carolina, 1585-1958: Brief Sketches was placed on this list.
State Department of Archives and History 55
This is another instance where the Department is working
for the interest of the elementary and high schools.
The Department publishes documentary volumes, pam-phlets,
leaflets, maps, charts. The North Carolina Historical
Review and Caroliyia Comments. A total of 406 items, either
originals or reprints, have been issued since the establish-ment
of the agency in 1903.
Madhn FutrcH. l>ci>artni( iit <>r Ar(hirr:i and History. October i4, 195S
Members of the staff of the Division of Publications. (Left to riyht) Miss Jo Ann
Roberts, Miss Beth G. Crabtree, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Wilborn, and D. L. Corbitt
[Editor).
During the two-year period a total of 25,750 volumes,
leaflets, charts, and pamphlets were mailed. ^ The Depart-ment
has always served scholars and teachers of North
Carolina history, but recently more emphasis has been
placed on the public schools with the result that many stu-dents
are making use of its services. Public and school
libraries, college and university libraries, and the general
public have continued to receive the services of the Depart-ment.
' For a list of the number of volumes, pamphlets, leaflets, and charts mailed by
month, see Appendix XXIII, p. 122.
56 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
The Division received a sum of ^n,T.\\)—an increase of
41 per cent—of which $5,592 w^as for membership dues in
the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association—
a
decrease of 1 per cent. The remaining $12,147 represented
an increase of 42 per cent for the State. This sum was col-lected
for subscriptions to The North Carolina Historical
Review and the Department's other publications.
For the past several years the North Carolina Literary
and Historical Association has had a Committee on Local
Historical Societies. The Editor of the Division has served
as chairman of the committee and during the biennium he
has assisted in organizing groups in the following counties
:
Chatham, Davidson, Harnett, Martin, Perquimans, and
Wake. During the years he has served as chairman, groups
have been organized in thirty-four counties. Some of the
groups are now inactive.
The number of subscribers - to The North Carolina His-torical
Revietv has decreased, " but at the same time there
has been a definite increase in the distribution of other
publications. The number of books, pamphlets, maps, and
charts distributed shows an increase of more than 7,000
copies. Also the amount of mail has increased. During the
two-year period 87,130 items of mail were placed in the post
office—an average cf 3,630 items each month. This was an
increase of 20 per cent for the biennium. Thus it is evident
that the services of the Division are reaching more people
than formerly.
Publications
A total of forty-one items was published—volumes, eight
numbers of The Noiih Carolina Historical Review, twelve
issues of Carolina Coiumefits, pamphlets, and leaflets.
Documentary and Other Volumes:
The Pa'pers of Willie Person Mangum, edited by Henry
Thomas Shanks. Volume V, 1847-1894. 1956, pp. xxxviii,
812, illustrated,
- For a list of paid-up subscribers, new or renewal, received per month, see Ap-pendix
XXVI. p. 123.
^ For a list of the number of copies of The ReA'ieiv mailed each quarter, see Ap-pendix
XXTV, p. 122,
State Department of Archives and History 57
Th( I'dprrs of WilUnni AUxdinUv (IralKUn, edited by J.
G. de Roulhac Hamilton. Volume I, 1825-1837. 1957, pp.
xxiv, 555, illustrated.
Public Addresses, Letters, and Papers of William Kerr
Scott, Governor of North Carolina, 1949-1953, edited by
David Leroy Corbitt. 1957, pp. xxxiii, 626, illustrated.
Public Addresses, Letters, and Papers of Williani Bradley
Umstead, Governor of North Carolina, 1953-1954, edited
by David Leroy Corbitt. 1957, pp. xxxiii, 414, illustrated.
North Carolina Governors, 1585-1958: Brief Sketches,
by Beth G. Crabtree. 1958, pp xiv, 137, illustrated.
Y" Countie of Albemarle in Carolina: A Collection of
Docnments, 1664-1675, edited by William S. Powell. 1958,
pp. xxxii, 101, illustrated.
Madiin FutrrJl. fhpartivnit of .Irc/ur.-s and History. March 2i, 1958
y Countie of Alhimarlr in Carolina (1!I5S) and 7'Iic Journal of tlir House of
lUirijesses (li>49. repiinteil 1958). These two publications of the Department, both
edited by William S. Powell, are now available at $1.50 and $1.00, respectively.
Pamphlets and Leaflets:
The Department published the following pamphlets and
leaflets
:
Tiventij-Sixth Biennial Report of the North Carolina De-partment
of Archives and History, 1954-1956. 1956, pp. 95,
illustrated.
58 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
The "Zebtdon B. Vance," A United States Liberty Ship.
By Beth G. Crabtree. 1956, pp. 19, illustrated.
The Archives of the North Carolina Department of Ar-chives
and History Services to the Public. 1956, pp. 8, il-lustrated.
Records Majiagement in North Carolina. 1957, pp. 8.
Historical Research in the North Carolina Department of
Archives and History. 1957, pp. 8.
Town Creek Indian Mound, State Historic Site. 1958, pp.
6, illustrated.
Carolina Charter of 1663. 1958, 1 p., illustrated.
Picturebook of Tar Heel Authors. By Richard Walser.
1957, pp. V, 38, illustrated.
Map of North Carolina, 1861-1865, indicat'ng- principal
engagements. 1957 and 1958, 1 p.
Map of North Carolina. Outline map showing counties.
1957 and 1958, 1 p.
North Carolina County Histories, A Bibliography. By
William S. Powell. 1957, pp. ii. 24, mimeographed.
The Department republished the following publications
:
The Journal of the House of Burgesses, of the Province of
North Carolina, 171^0. Introduction by William S. Powell,
second printing. 1958, pp. xix, 14.
Money Problems of Early Tar Heels. By Mattie Erma
Parker, 4th edition. 1957, pp. 14, illustrated.
The North Carolina Flag. By W. R. Edmonds, revised by
D. L. Corbitt, 3rd edition. 1957, pp. 14, illustrated.
Chart Showing Origin of North Carolina Connties. By D.
L. Corbitt and L. Polk Denmark. 1957, 1 p.
The War of the Regulation and The Battle of Alamance,
May 16, 1771. By WilHam S. Powell, 2nd edition. 1957, pp.
32, illustrated.
The North Carolina Historical Review:
Eight issues of The North Caroliria Historical Review
were published. There were 2,000 copies of each issue and
12,044 copies of all issues were mailed, including 1,528
back issues. * The total cost of printing this journal was
* For a list of the number of copies of back issues mailed per month, see Appendix
XXV, p 122.
State Department of Archives and History 50
$11,777, an average of $1,472 per issue. Paid-up subscrip-tions,
either new or renewal, totaling 2,464 were received,
averaging 102 per month. Subscribers are located in twenty-five
states, the District of Columbia, and two foreign coun-tries.
The publication is mailed on exchange to institutions
and organizations in thirty-three States, the District of
Columbia, and three foreign countries.
Forty-two articles (one of which was in two parts) and
six documents or collections of letters (one of which was
in two parts) were published in The Review. Twenty-eight
articles were on North Carolina subjects, ' five were on the
South and related subjects, and nine were on biography. All
six of the documentary sections dealt with North Carolina
or North Carolinians. ' Thirty of the authors were North
Carolinians and eighteen were from outside the State.
There were 141 books reviewed in The Review: twenty-nine
on North Carolina history; nine on North Carolina
biography ; fifty-six on the history of other States and the
South ; twenty-seven on general biography ; and twenty on
general subjects. These books were reviewed by forty-four
resident North Carolinians and forty-one by scholars out-side
the State.
Carolina Comments:
This four-page news sheet, which was begun in May,
1952, continued to be issued every two months. Each issue
is usually illustrated and 2,500 copies" of each issue are
published. It is mailed free to subscribers to The North
Carolina Historical Review, members of the North Carolina
Literary and Historical Association, to public, college and
university, and public school libraries in the State, and to
some of the larger libraries and archival agencies through-out
the United States.
The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association
:
In January, 1924, the Department of Archives and
History began to publish quarterly The North Carolina
For a list of articles published in The Review, see Appendix XXVII, p. 123.
' For a list of documents published in The Review, see Appendix XXVIII, p. 125.
For a list of the number of copies of Caroliva Comments mailed each issue, see
Appendix XXIX, p. 12.5.
60 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Uistorind Ucvtcir, and this niaKazine has been published
regularly since that date. It carries material pertaining to
the State's history, documents, book reviews, and historical
news.
All members of the Association are subscribers to The
Review at a reduced rate. In the beginning the dues in the
Association were $1.00 per year and a subscription to The
Review was $2.00 per year, but members of the Association
received a membership in the Association and a year's
subscription to The Review for $2.00. All dues for both
were divided equally between the Association and the De-partment.
During the intervening years several changes
were made in the dues of the Association, but no change
was made in the subscription rate to The Review until
January, 1956, when the subscription price was advanced
from $2.00 to $3.00 per year. At the same time the dues in
the Association were advanced to $5.00 per year—which
included a year's subscription. The dues in the Association
are divided equally. The North Carolina Literary and His-torical
Association receives $2.50 and the Department $2.50.
During the biennium the average mailing of The North
Carolina Historical Review was 1,314 copies while during
the previous biennium the average was 1,453 copies per
issue. This was a 10 per cent decrease from the last bien-nium.
During the biennium 1952-1954 the average number
mailed was 1,121 per issue. Thus this biennium the mailing
showed an increase of 14 per cent over the period 1952-
1954.
FUTURE PUBLICATIONS
When the Department, in 1908, began to publish documen-tary
volumes it was able to pay a nominal fee to editors who
prepared materials for publication and to see the volumes
through the press. During the depression years this phase
of its work was curtailed for lack of funds. It is unrealistic
to expect scholars to edit documentary material for the
Department without some compensation for their labors
and for traveling expenses in order for them to visit im-
State Department ok Archives and History G1
portant archives and research centers where they may
have access to relevant research materials. The fact that
the Department is not able to pay for such services makes
it difficult to interest competent scholars because these
people must earn a living for their families. There is much
more involved than merely locating materials. All the docu-ments,
letters, and reports must be copied and the copies
thoroughly checked before the editor really begins his re-search
for documenting his material. He must visit re-search
centers and large libraries. Thus much travel is
necessary. The Department should assist interested editors
by procuring copies of materials and paying a small portion
of the personal expenses involved in such work.
The Department has in hand edited materials for several
documentary volumes as soon as funds are available. The
funds now available are just barely enough to publish one
volume annually, and there are no prospects that additional
funds will be provided in the near future.
Zebulon B. Vance Papers:
The first volume of this series of some six or seven
volumes has been in page proof for eighteen months except
the front matter. Dr. Frontis W. Johnston, Head of the
History Department at Davidson College, is editing the
material and has been unable to reduce the biographical
material to a proper proportion. The material in this series
covers an interesting period in North Carolina history.
\"ance was Congressman, three times governor of the State,
and United States Senator. 1879-1894. He served as gover-nor
during the Civil War period, and was one of the most
popular public otticials in all North Carolina history. The
Department expects to issue the volumes just as soon as
Dr. Johnston can complete his editorial work and funds
become available.
Blount Papers:
During the biennium, 1952-1954, volume one of this series
became available for distribution. Dr. Alice B. Keith of
Meredith College is editing the series and during this bien-nium
volume two was placed in the hands of the printer,
62 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
and is now in galley proof. It is planned that volume three
will be published as soon as Dr. Keith can complete her
editorial work and funds are provided. This material is
from the family papers of John Gray, Thomas, and William
Blount and other members of the Blount family during the
late colonial, revolutionary, and early national periods.
William A. Graham Papers:
Volume one of this series that will total approximately
six volumes was issued. Volume two will be sent to the
printer as soon as funds are provided. William A. Graham
was Governor of the State, United States Senator, Secretary
of the Navy, Confederate States Senator, and vice presi-dential
nominee on the Whig ticket with General Winfield
Scott in 1852. Dr. J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton of Chapel Hill,
who has edited three other series for the Department, is
editor of this series.
Thomas Jordau Jarvis Papers:
The Department has secured the services of Dr. W. B.
Yearns of Wake Forest College to edit these papers. Dr.
Yearns has begun work on this material, but as yet he
does not know how many volumes will be necessary to
complete the work. Thomas J. Jarvis was a Confederate
soldier, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, United States Sena-tor,
and Minister to Brazil. Jarvis was interested in internal
improvements and particularly in railroad development and
educational progress.
Robert B. Glenn Papers:
Dr. Joseph R. Steelman of East Carolina College has
agreed to edit the Robert B. Glenn Papers. This will proba-bly
consist of one volume. Glenn represented Forsyth
County in the State senate in 1899 and was governor, 1905-
1909, following the administration of Charles B. Aycock,
the educational governor.
The Willie Person Mangum Papers:
During the last several years the Department published
five volumes of the Mangum Papers and it was thought
State Department of Archives and History 63
that Volume V concluded the series. Last year the Library
of Congress acquired additional Mangum letters, and Dr.
Henry T. Shanks, editor, now believes that there will be
two or three more volumes. He expects to begin work on
this additional material during the fall and the Department
will be interested in publishing it as soon as Dr. Shanks can
complete it and the money becomes available.
Pamphlets:
At the end of the biennium several pamphlets were in
the process of preparation. Secretaries of the Navy, Brief
Sketches of Five North Carolinians was ready for the
printer. This pamphlet will be approximately twenty pages
and will be illustrated. A North Carolina Historical Calendar —a pamphlet designed to give brief and specific information
on North Carolina history—is in preparation but is not yet
completed. Mr. Hugh F. Rankin is preparing a pamphlet
on North Carolina in the Revolution, Dr. John G. Barrett
one on North Carolina in the Civil War, and Dr. William
S. Hoffman still another on North Carolina in the Mexican
War. A pamphlet, largely made up of pictures, dealing with
the Civil War period, is nearly ready for the printer. A
pamphlet on the Governor's Mansion is also being written.
The pamphlet program is designed primarily for the pub-lic
schools and the program will be expanded in the future.
Publications for School Children:
During the past few years the Department has shifted
the emphasis of its publication program in the direction
of providing the students of our public schools with more
materials on the State's history. There is a particular need
for this, for these students of today should be instructed
in their background and heritage so that they will make
better citizens and civic leaders of tomorrow. This shift in
program has been made without neglecting the needs of
the research scholar, the librarian, the school teacher, and
the adult layman.
(54 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
State Department of Archives anu History G5
APPENDIX II
Appropriations and Expenditures, 1930-1958
Year Appropriaticn Expenditures
1930-1931 $30,865 $23,565
1931-1932 24,865 18,339
1932-1933 20,065 13,286
1933-1934 12,826 11,223
1934-1935 11,315 11,298
1935-1936 19,364 16,157
1936-1937 20,294 19,986
1937-1938 21,843 20,478
1938-1939 22,443 22,088
1939-1940 21,160 20,594
1940-1941 21,160 20,669
1941-1942 23,300 21,253
1942-1943 24,514 23,843
1943-1944 28,707 27,973
1944-1945 28,212 26,941
1945-1946 45,290 30,651
1946-1947 54,827 51,388
1947-1948 68,391 66,642
1948-1949 64,073 63,800
1949-1950 84,851 83,958
1950-1951 93,723 93,629
1951-1952 99,668 97,658
1952-1953 113,528 110,523
1953-1954 161,203 153,265
1954-1955 160,084 148,510
1955-1956 183,182 165,063
1956-1957 194,133 181,530
1957-1958 346,535 262,927
APPENDIX III
Al'PROPKIATlONS AND EXPENDITURES, l!)5(;-195S
1956-1957 1957-195S
Appropria- Expendi- Apprupria- Expendi-tio)
i f II res tion tiires
Salaries and Wagx's $127,522 $126,098 $170,217 $158,902
Supplies and Materials 12,292 11,371 13,050 12.244
Postage, Telephone,
Telegrams, Express 2,180 2,180 2,100 2,036
Travel Expense 3,680 3,448 5,705 4,573
Printing and Binding 16,400 16,400 17,400 16,598.
Motor Vehicle
Operation 950 860 1,825 1,195
—
State Department of Archives and History G7
APPENDIX V
Positions and Salary Ranges, June 30, 1958
Archives and History Scries
Director $ 9,600
State Archivist 6,156-7,500
Archivist II 4,104-5,112
Archivist I 3,516-4,356
Public Records Examiner 4,620-5,796
State Records Center Supervisor 4,620-5,796
Editor 5,928-7,104
Editorial Assistant II 4,104-5.112
Editorial Assistant I 3,516-4,356
Museum Administrator 5,688-6,864
Museum Curator II 4,104-5,112
Museum Curator I 3,516-4,356
Historic Sites Superintendent 5,688-6,864
Historic Site Specialist 4,104-5,112
Clc)-ical cold Goio-al Series
Stenographer Clerk III 3,300-4,140
Stenographer Clerk II 2,868-3,624
Photographer I 3,192-4,032
Clerk II 2,772-3,528
Cii studied and Housekeeping Series
Janitor 1,872-2,460
Janitor-Messenger 2,016-2,604
APPENDIX VI
List of Employees, Showing Name, Title, and Period of Service
(if Less Than the Full Biennium)*
Adndtiist)ution :
Crittenden, Christopher. Director
Futrell. Mrs. Madlin M., Photographer I. July 1. iy57-June 30, 1958
Hardy, James T.. Janitor-Messenger
Johnson, Mrs. Blanche M., Stenographer Clerk III
Kill)y. .Ann Jones, Stenographer Clerk II
Dirisidii (if A rclii r( s and Ma niisrrii>fs :
A rehires :
Ueers, Mi-s. Pauline Cone. .Aicliivist il, Octobe)- 1, 1957-February 21,
1958
* These data of course are only for the two years, July 1. 1956-June 30, 1958.
In many instances the teim of service Vjegan befoie oi' continued after this two-year
perio<l.
G8 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Daniels, Patricia B., Clerk II (temporary), September 1, 1956-Jan-uary
11, 1957
Denny, Jean S., Archivist I, July 1, 1956-March 31, 1958
Green, Mary Carolyn, Archivist I, March 1, 1958-June 30, 1958
Griffin, Mrs. Bettye F., Clerk II, July 1, 1956-August 17, 1956; Jan-uary
14, 1957-April 7, 1957
Haines, Ruth, Archivist I (temporary), March 1, 1957-June 30, 1957.
(permanent), July 1, 1957-June 30, 1958 (married and became
Mrs. Ruth H. Page, April 27, 1957)
Hall, Edward W., Jr., Janitor (temporary), November 29, 1956-April
5, 1957
Hall, Robei-t Gillis, Janitor (temporary), April 12, 1957-June 30, 1957
Hardie, Mrs. Beatrice R., Archivist I, July 1, 1956-August 12, 1957
Hunter, Wilbert, Janitor (temporary), August 12, 1957-June 30, 1958
Jones, Houston G., State Archivist
Long, John Leslie, Archivist I, May 19, 1958-June 30, 1958
Meconnahey, Mrs. Julia C, Archivist II
Page, Mrs. Ruth H., Archivist I (see Haines, Ruth)
Robinson, Mrs. Rachel R., Archivist I, July 1, 1956-March 12, 1957;
June 17, 1957-June 30, 1958
Rogers, Mrs. Mary J., Archivist II
Stephenson, Mrs. Bernice Day, Archivist I, July 1, 1956-October 31,
1956
Watkins, Mrs. Elizabeth B., Clerk II, May 20, 1957-June 30, 1958
Records Administration
:
Austin, Leonard, Janitor-Messenger
Bedding-field, Mrs. Rebecca B., Clerk II, September 10, 1956-October
31, 1956
Bell, Mrs. Suzanne G., Clerk II (temporary), February 1, 1957-April
30, 1957; (permanent), May 1, 1957-August 31, 1957
Blackwelder, Mrs. Fannie Memory, State Records Center Supervisor
Borchers, Mrs. Ethel E., Clerk II, November 1, 1956-June 30, 1958
Bowling, Mrs. Bessie W., Clerk II, November 19, 1956-June 30, 1958
Clegg, Rebecca Knight, Archivist I, (see Knight. Mildred Rebecca)
Fish, James Lloyd, Archivist I, May 26, 1958-June 30, 1958
Green, Mrs. Elissa H., Clerk II, July 1, 1956-September 31, 1956;
Archivist I, November 1, 1956-May 31, 1957
Hilbourn, Mrs. Elizabeth J., Clerk II, July 1, 1956-Deceaiber 1, 1956;
May 1, 1957-June 30, 1958
Hunter, Mrs. Betty W., Clerk II, July 1, 1956-February 15, 1957
Knight, Mildred Rebecca, Archivist I, June 4, 1957-June 6, 1958 (mar-ried
and became Mrs. Rebecca K. Clegg, November 27, 1957)
Kuhn, Mrs. Jo Ann Wilson, Archivist I, September 1, 1957-June 30,
1958
Moss, Mrs. Elizabeth C., Archivist I
State Department of Archives and History 69
Stoughton, Barbara, Clerk II, July 1, 1956-September 24, 1956
Swann, Mrs. Doris G., Clerk II, November 1, 1956-April 30, 1957
Wall, Mrs. Maxie C, Clerk II, September 1, 1957-June 30, 1958
Diinsio7i of Historic Sites:
Cannon, Carl Franklin, Jr., hourly laborer (temporary, pai't-time
researcher), March 4, 1958-June 30, 1958
Gaines, Edward, hourly laborer (temporary, Town Creek Indian
Mound)
Gelbach, George K., Historic Site Specialist (Bentonville Battle-ground),
September 1, 1957-June 30, 1958
Honeycutt, A. L., Jr., Historic Site Specialist (Alamance Battle-ground),
June 1, 1957-June 30, 1958
Larson, Norman C, Historic Site Specialist (Alamance Battle-ground),
July 1, 1956-August 31, 1957
Lee, Enoch Lawrence, Jr., Historic Site Specialist (Brunswick Town),
June 1, 1958-June 30, 1958
Lloyd, Barbara J., Stenographer Clerk II, October 1, 1956-June 30,
1958 (married and became Mrs. Barbara L. Walls, June 8, 1958)
Sawyer, Richard W., Jr., Historic Site Specialist (Aycock Birth-place),
January 1, 1958-June 30, 1958
South, Stanley A., Historic Site Specialist (Town Creek Indian
Mound)
Tarlton, William S., Historic Sites Superintendent
Walls, Mrs. Barbara L., Stenographer Clerk II (see Lloyd, Barbara
J.)
Division of Museums:
Cole, Mrs. Julia S., Stenographer Clerk II, July 1, 1956-January 14,
1958; April 1, 1958-June 30, 1958
Ellington, John David, Museum Curator I, June 16, 1958-June 30,
1958
Farley, Mrs. Martha H., Museum Curator I, July 1, 1956-June 12,
1958
Jordan, Mrs. Joye E., Museum Administrator
Larson, Norman C, Museum Curator II, November 16, 1957-June 30,
1958
McKeithan, Barbara A., Museum Curator I (married and became
Mrs. Barbara McK. Shultz, March 22, 1958)
Phillips, Mrs. Dorothy R., Museum Curator II, July 1, 1956-Novem-ber
19, 1957
Rogers, Marvin K., Janitor-Messenger
Shultz, Mrs. Barbara McK., Museum Curator I (see McKeithan,
Barbara)
Walker, Mrs. Mary K., Stenographer Clerk II (temporary), January
1, 1958-June 30, 1958
70 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Division of I'ubliculioiis :
Corbitt, D. L., Editor
Crabtree, Beth G., Editorial Assistant II
Harrell, Mrs. Ernestine H., Stenographer Clerk II, July 1, 1957-
June 17, 1958
Roberts, Jo Ann, Stenog-rapher Clerk II, September 19, 1957-June
30, 1958
Whitaker, Mary McCall, Stenographer Clerk II, July 1, 1956-July
31, 1957
Wilborn, Mrs. Elizabeth W., Editorial Assistant I
APPENDIX VII
Publications of Staff Members
Mrs. Fannie Memory Blackwelder wrote an article, "Organization
and Early Years of the North Carolina Bar Association," The North
Carolina Historical Review, XXXIV (January, 1957) ; and the fol-lowing
publications for the Department:
Records Managemevt in North Caroli)ia, leaflet (October, 1957).
"Records Management Program: A Function of the North Caro-lina
Department of Archives and History," mimeographed (August,
1957).
"Handbook of Procedures and Policies: Records Management Pro-gram,"
mimeographed (May, 1957).
"Records in North Carolina," typed summary of laws affecting
records (February, 1957 [supplement to include 1957 changes com-pleted
in June, 1958]).
Mr. D. L. Corbitt served as Managing Editor of The North Caro-lina
Historical Review and reviewed North Carolina Genealogical
Reference: A Research Guide. By Wallace R. Draughon (Durham:
Seeman Printery, Inc. 195(i), The American Archivist, XX, Number
4 (October, 1957). He also edited Public Addresses, Letters, and
Papers of William Kerr Scott, Governor of North Carolina, 19^9-
1953, and Public Addresses, Letters, and Papers of William Bradley
Umstead, 1953-1954 (Raleigh: Council of State, 1957).
Miss Beth G. Crabtree wrote for publication by the Department
a pamphlet, The "Zebulon B. Vance," U. S. Liberty Ship (October,
1956), and a book, North Carolina Governors, 1585-1958, Brief
Sketches (April, 1958).
Dr. Christopher Crittenden served as Editor of The North Caro-lina
Historical Review. He also wrote the following articles and
book review;
State Department of Archives and History 71
Articles
Talk on preserving; historical records in the South. Copyright 1956
by The Jev^rish Theological Seminary of America. (Delivered at the
Conference on the Writing of Regional History in the South, Miami
Beach, February 15, 1956.) Multilithed.
"The State Archivist and the Researcher," The Americayi Archi-vist,
XIX, Number 3 (July, 1956), 215-220. (Paper read at a session
of the Southern Historical Association, Memphis, November 11, 1955.)
"The Public Library and Local Historical Sources," North Caro-lina
Libraries, March and May, 1957, 63-66. Reprinted in History
News, Xn, Number 9, (July, 1957).
"History Can Be Big Business," a talk to the Travel Council of
North Carolina, Asheville, October 31, 1957. Mimeographed.
"We've Come a Long Way: History and Historical Activities in
North Carolina," presidential address to The Historical Society of
North Carolina, Winston-Salem, November 1, 1957. Typed.
Forew^ord to Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage (Chapel
Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. 1957).
"A New Look at History Museums," a talk to the American
Association of Museums, Charleston, South Carolina, May 2, 1958.
Mimeographed.
Book Revieiv
Robert Oliver, Merchant of Baltimore, 1783-1819. By Stuart Weems
Burchey. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 1956.) The
American Historical Revierv, LXII, Number 4 (July, 1957).
Mr. H. G. Jones wrote two leaflets for publication by the Depart-ment:
The Archives of the North Carolina Department of Archives
and Histortj: Services to the Public (1956), and Historical Research
in the North Carolina Department of Archives and History (1957).
He also edited County Records in North Carolina: Preservation, Re-production,
Disposal (1957). Mimeographed. During the biennium
he wrote the following articles and book reviews:
Articles
"A State Program for Microfilming County Records." Minutes of
the North Carolina Conventioyi of County Commissioner, 1958 (Re-print
of an address delivered at the annual convention of the North
Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Carolina Beach, June
23, 1958. This address was also carried in the Mi7iutes of the Annual
Meeting of the North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds,
1958).
"Boom in History." The State, XXIV, Number 18, January 26,
1957.
"North Carolina Quiz." The State, XXV, Number 26, May 17, 1958.
72 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Book Reviews (all of which appeared in The North Ccuoliiia Histori-cal
Review)
.
History of North Carolina. By Hugh T. Lefler. (New York: Lewis
Publishing Company Inc. 1956.) XXXIV, Number 1 (January, 1957).
Home on the Yadkin. By Thomas W. Ferguson. (Winston-Salem:
Clay Printing Company. 1956.) XXXIV, Number 3 (July, 1958).
Index and Digest to Hathaivay's North Carolina Historical and
Genealogical Register. Compiled and edited by Worth S. Ray. (Balti-more:
Southern Book Company. 1956 [Reprint] XXXIV, Number 3,
(July, 1958).
Colonial Granville County and Its People. Compiled and edited by
Worth S. Ray. (Baltimore: Southern Book Company. 1956 [Reprint]
XXXIV, Number 3 (July, 1958).
The American hidian in Graduate Studies: A Bibliography of
Theses and Dissertations. Compiled by Frederick J. Dockstader. (New
York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. 1957.)
XXXV, Number 1 (January, 1958).
Three Hund)-ed Years along the Pasquotank: A Biographical His-tory
of Camden County. By Jesse Foi-bes Pugh. (Old Trap: Privately
printed. 1957.) XXXV, Number 2 (April, 1958).
Mrs. Joye E. Jordan wrote and revised the following mimeographed
booklets for the Department:
Netv
"Bibliography of Materials on State and Local History in North
Carolina." 1958.
Revised
"Hall of History Workbook." 1957.
"Tarheel Junior Historian Association." 1957.
"A Guide to the Hall of History." 1957.
Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Norman C. Larson, Education Curator of the
Hall of History, collaborated on two articles which appeared in North
Carolina Education
:
"Our Hall of History," XXIV, Number 8 (April, 1958).
"Our Seventeenth President, His Birthplace

THE LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA
C9O6
N87h
23-28
19148-60
UNIVERSITY OF N C AT CHAPEL HILL
00033953614
This book must not
be token from the
Library building.
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive
in 2009 with funding from
Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access (NC-LSTA)
http://www.archive.org/details/biennialreportof195658nort
TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT
of the
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
JULY 1, 1956
TO
JUNE 30, 1958
RALEIGH
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
1958
NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Executive Boards
McDaniel Lewis, Chairman, Greensboro
James W. Atkins, Gastonia
Gertrude Sprague Carraway, New Bern
Fletcher M. Green, Chapel Hill
Josh L. Home, Rocky Mount
William Thomas Laprade, Durham
Herschell V. Rose, Smithfield
Christopher Crittenden, Director, Raleigh
IN MEMORIAM
Clarence W. Griffin
March 22, 1904—January 10, 1958
The Executive Board of the Department on January 17, 1958,
passed the following resolution
:
Whereas, our fellow Board member Clarence W. Griffin of
Forest City departed this life on January 10 last, and
Whereas, he had served for eighteen years as a member of the
Executive Board of this Department and had rendered faithful
and valuable service in this connection, and
Whereas, he had long been a leader in historical interests and
activities in North Carolina, having published many books and
articles, promoted many movements, and led many oi'ganizations
in the field. Now, Therefore
Be It Resolved by the Executive Board of the State Depart-ment
of Archives and History, First, that we express our deep
regret at the passing of Clarence Griffin and our appreciation
for all the services he had rendered, both as a member of this
Board and in the field of North Carolina history in general, and
Second, that this resolution be entered in the minutes of the
Board and that copies be sent to the family.
1 For terms of office of members of the Executive Board, see below. Appendix 1,
p. 64.
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION
To His Excellency
Luther H. Hodges
Governor of North Carolina
Dear Governor Hodges
:
In compliance with Chapter 543, Session Laws of 1955,
I have the honor to submit herewith for your Excellency's
consideration the Biennial Report of the North Carolina
Department of Archives and History for the period, July 1,
1956-June 30, 1958.
Respectfully,
Christopher Crittenden,
Director
Raleigh, July 1. 1958
CONTENTS
Lonji-ran^-u View 7
Division of Archives and Manuscripts 21
Division of Historic Sites 34
Division of Museums 43
Division of Publications 54
Appendixes:
I The Executive Board, June 30, 1958 64
II Appropriations and Expenditures, 1930-1958 65
III Appropriations and Expenditures, 1956-1958 65
IV Number of Employees as of June 30
at the End of Each Biennium 66
V Positions and Salary Ranges, June 30, 1958 67
VI List of Employees, Showing Name, Title,
and Period of Service 67
VII Publications of Staff Members 70
VIII Archives and Manuscripts Accessioned 73
IX Services Rendered by Division of Archives
and Manuscripts, by State and Foreign
Country 94
X Services Rendered by Division of Archives
and Manuscripts, by Classification 95
XI Number of Visits to Search Room for
Each Biennium, 1928-1958 95
XII Colleges and Universities Represented by
Visitors and Mail Inquirers 96
XIII Topics of Research of Visitors and
Mail Inquirers 96
XIV Photographic Copies Furnished by the
Division of Archives and Manuscripts 98
XV Pages Laminated 98
XVI Visits to Counties by State Archivist to
Assist in Handling Official Records
Problems 98
XVII Administrative Histories and
Inventories Agencies Completed 99
XVIII State Records Microfilmed 99
XIX Records Turnover at Records Center 100
XX New Historical Markers Erected
During the Biennium 101
XXI Registration at the Hall of History,
by State and Foreign Country 101
XXII Museum Items Accessioned 103
XXIII Volumes, Pamphlets, Leaflets, and
Charts Mailed by Month 122
XXIV Copies of The North Carolina Historical
Revieiv Mailed by Issue 122
XXV Back Issues of The North Carolina
Historical Review Mailed by Month 122
XXVI Paid-up Subscriptions, New or Renewal,
Received for The North Carolina
Historical Revieiv, by Month 123
XXVII Articles Published in The North Carolina
Historical Revieiv 123
XXVIII Documents Published in The North Carolina
Historical Review 125
XXIX Copies of Carolina Comments Mailed
Per Issue 125
o
C/2
hH
P
o
o
<
pw
ri>artmc>it of Ardnrr.f and Hixtory. October Ji, 195S
Members uf the stair of the Kecurds Centei-. ( />i/( to rlyht) Mrs. Elizabeth C. Moss,
Mrs. Bessie W. Bowling, Karl E. Turner, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hilbourn. Claude J.
Henner. Jr., Mrs. Fannie Memor.v Blackwelder {Supervisor) , Leonard Austin, Mrs.
Ethel E. Borchers, and Mrs. Maxie C. Wall.
sentatives of the State agencies under the sponsorship of the
Department of Archives and History.
As a result of better understanding on the part of State
agencies, more and more of them requested the services of
the Department of Archives and History in connection with
their records problems. During the biennium nineteen in-ventories
and administrative histories were completed and
an introductory statement of authorization, making the
schedules the official guides for the handling of records, was
signed by the head of the department creating the records
and by the Director of the Department of Archives and
History.'
There was a vast volume of turnover in records. As in-ventories
of records already in the Records Center were
completed and schedules adopted, much of the material
which had been brought in several years ago without being
1 For a list of administrative histories and inventories completed, see Appendix XVII,
p. 99.
State Department of Archives and History 31
A trained Archivist inventories A skilled opei-ator microfilms
the records of an agency records for a State agency.
Each roll of film is carefully Obsolete records are burned or
checked for errors shredded
under schedule was declared obsolete and was destroyed.
During the biennium 7,480 cubic feet of records were
brought in and 6,667 cubic feet went out, a net gain of 813
cubic feet. Records were admitted from twenty-three agen-cies,
and twenty-four departments and agencies had records
removed from the Records Center. Some of the records
which were removed were sent to the Archives, some
were microfilmed before being destroyed, and others were
destroyed when they became obsolete under established
schedules.^
^ For a list of records turnover at Record Center (in cubic feet), see Appendix XIX,
p. 100.
32 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Some schedules provide that records be "weeded" before
they are destroyed to assure that records of historical or
research value will be preserved. During the biennium
records of nine agencies were weeded.
As in other phases of the program, the amount of
microfilming done for State agencies increased. The Rec-ords
Center staff photographed 9,803,385 images for sixteen
agencies. The four persons assigned to the microfilm project
did most of the filming on rotary cameras, using 16mm film.
In most cases a copy of the film was sent to the agency
creating the records and a duplicate security copy was
retained at the Records Center.'-
The staff continued to service records for agencies asking
for information from their files at the Records Center. Ten
agencies requested service a total of 742 times. By far the
greatest number of requests, 663, came from the Depart-ment
of Motor Vehicles. Representatives of sixteen agencies
came to the Records Center 1,250 times to use their own
records.
Physical improvements were made which have increased
the efficiency of the Records Management Program. A
shredding machine was purchased so that confidential ma-terials
could be completely obliterated before being sold. A
major forward step was the purchase of the microfilming
equipment. The Recordak RM machines, which had been
rented for approximately a year, were purchased as second-hand
machines in the summer of 1957. A new microfilm
reader, with interchangeable lenses, was purchased in the
spring of 1958.
Other physical improvements included the purchase of
new desks for the archivists and a coat of paint for the
desks used by the microfilmers. The office space was painted.
Concrete seal was applied to the floors in an effort to control
the dust. There was no water available in the Records
Center prior to the summer of 1956. A lavatory was in-stalled
at that time, and a rest room was completed in
the summer of 1958.
A hearing liefore the Commission on Reorganization of
^ For a list of state recoiils miciofilmed, including agencies, images, and reels, see
Appendix XVIII, p. 99.
State Department of Archives and History H'd
State Government in May, 1958, enabled the Department to
point out some of the needs of the Records Management
Program. In touring the Records Center the Commission
members not only learned what activities were included in
the program but were able to see some of the problems
which must be faced in the near future.
One of the most acute problems is the need for additional
space. As the biennium closed, plans were being made to
convert from filing cabinets to shelving in one large room
at the Records Center. It is estimated that the shelving-corrugated
box combination throughout the stack areas
will make possible the filing of nearly twice as many records
as are now in the Records Center. The change-over is being
planned with the co-operation of the Department of Ad-ministration.
In looking toward the future, it seems inevitable that
shelving will have to be installed throughout the Records
Center in order to provide space for records already sched-uled
to come in. Though shelving will nearly double the
capacity, either expansion into the entire building or a move
to a larger building will ultimately be necessary in order to
take care of the increasing volume of records.
Many agencies which need help with records problems
are not yet participating in the Records Management Pro-gram.
These departments should take part in the program,
and eventually branch offices of State agencies should be
given assistance. Requests for this type of service have
been turned down so far because of the tremendous amount
of work to be done with State offices located in Raleigh and
because of lack of staff".
Consideration should also be given to expansion into all
phases of records management. Concentration has been on
inventorying and adoption of disposal schedules, microfilm-ing,
and the operation of the Records Center, but almost
nothing has been done in the line of creation of records, in
file and mail room procedures, and other such activities
recognized as features of a complete Records Management
Program. Whether or not expansion in this direction should
l)e cariied out is a question still unanswered, but one which
will need to be faced in future months.
DIVISION OF HISTORIC SITES
William S. Tarlton, Historic Sites Superintendent
The basic purpose of the Historic Sites Program is the
conservation and development of historic site properties for
public use. This purpose is the same as that which under-lies
Federal and State park programs, fish and wildlife
protection, and most other conservation programs. Selected
properties that have significant historical importance are
acquired by purchase or donation and brought into the pro-gram.
Then they are restored, protected, and improved for
the educational and inspirational use—and for the sheer
enjoyment—of the people of North Carolina and of visitors.
In developing historic properties, full use is made of
regular professional methods and scholarship, but the end
achievement is designed for the general public, not just the
professionals. Constant efforts are made to avoid narrowly
antiquarian and specialized viewpoints that have little
meaning, and are sometimes actually revolting, to the
general run of intelligent people. Taking the authentic
substance of historj' (insisting always on authenticity in
every matter of history) , we apply to it the lessons of public
interest and need, as well as old fashioned showmanship,
in an effort to create an effective means of introducing all
the people of North Carolina to a consciousness and appreci-ation
of their history.
At the present time the Department's Historic Sites
Program proper consists of eight properties. Six of these
are administered directly by the Department through the
Historic Sites Division. The other two projects, smaller in
scope, are operated by local organizations under contract.
In addition to these eight, there are six other projects,
sponsored by local or special organizations, to which the
Department has given advisory assistance and financial
aid from funds appropriated for the purpose. Finally, there
is the Tryon Palace Restoration, administered by the Tryon
Palace Commission, which the Department assists in vari-ous
ways, including the handling of fiscal accounts and
budgetary matters.
State Department of Archives and History 35
To summarize, through the Historic Sites Division the
Department at the present time administers six projects
and exercises a substantial interest in nine others—a total
of fifteen projects. During the 1957-1959 biennium the
Department has a budget, from state appropriations, of
approximately $217,000 for the Historic Sites Program,
excluding about $45,000 for Tryon Palace.
Selection Criteria:
All properties acquired for development by the State, or
to which grants in aid are made available by the State,
should measure up to criteria adopted at the beginning to
guide the entire program. Some of the most important of
these are as follows:
(1) Historic properties should possess statewide or na-tional
historical significance, not merely local. This is the
most important criterion of all and it usually rules in ac-quisitions.
This requirement means that properties should
be connected with important events, persons, or movements
or typify important segments of North Carolina history,
and that they should bear a significant relationship to other
projects in the program. In acquisitions, preference is given
in cases where original structures or other physical remains
are present.
(2) Properties should conform to reasonable require-ments
of financing, maintenance, and accessibility. Prefer-ence
is given where local and private financial assistance is
offered, and where accessibility and freedom from undesir-able
encroachment (as by commercial and industrial de-velopment)
are present. Properties should also have ade-quate
boundaries for the protection of historical values
against future encroachment.
Application of these standards to site acquisitions has
resulted in a state wide program of historic properties
which is representative of the entire span of our history
and which is distributed geographically. These projects are
scattered over the entire State from the seashore to the
mountains. They represent periods from early colonial his-tory
all the way down to the twentieth century. They repre-sent
aboriginal Indian, military, political, educational,
3(5 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Madlin Futrell, Dcparlmerd of Archives and History, October IJ,, 195S
Members of the staff of the Historic Sites Division. (Left to right) R. Judson
Mitchell. Richard W. Sawyer, Jr., Mrs. Barbara L. Walls, A. L. Honeycutt, Jr.,
and William S. Tarlton (Superintendent of Historic Sites). Stanley A. South and
David S. Phelps, also members of the staff, are not shown.
village, and agricultural aspects of North Carolina history.
Several of them, in addition, illustrate the importance of
individual great men and events.
A comprehensive state program has therefore been out-lined.
The chief need at present is to fill out this program
by the proper development of the individual site projects.
This calls especially for capital improvements—the restora-tion
of historic structures and remains and the construction
of museum buildings, dwelling houses for personnel in
charge of the projects, access roads and parking lots, land-scaping,
and rest room and picnic facilities.
Progress in Developing the Site P}'()jects:
(1) Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site, located
near Smithfield, Johnston County. In 1957 a property of
fifty-one acres, including the historic Harper House (Con-federate
Hospital), the Confederate Cemetery, and lines of
State Department of Archives and History 37
earthworks was acquired in the lar^e 6,000-acre battlefield.
Since that time historical research and planning have been
carried forward, repairs have been made to the Harper
House and the outbuildings, and a temporary museum pro-gram
has been established. Plans have also been made to
mark the entire battlefield area and arrangements have
been completed to keep the Harper House open on Sunday
afternoons. Among the chief needs for the future are com-plete
repair and restoration of the Harper House and out-buildings,
improvement of the Confederate Cemetery, prep-aration
for proper exhibit of historic battlefield earthworks,
and the construction of a museum center and other facilities
of public use.
The Battle of Bentonville, fought in March, 1865, by
Confederate forces under General Joseph E. Johnston and
Federal forces under General William T. Sherman, was the
largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on the soil of North
Carolina and was a battle of important consequences in the
last phase of the Civil War. A direct consequence of the
failure of Johnston to stop the northward march of Sher-man's
forces was the surrender in April, 1865, of Johnston's
Confederate Army near the present city of Durham. The
significance of this battle justifies development of the site
as one of the major projects in the State's over-all program.
All efi"orts will be made to complete the project before the
centennial year, 1965.
(2) Charles B. Aycock Birthplace Historic Site, located
near Goldsboro in Wayne County. In 1958 additional land
was acquired, bringing the total area of the project to
ten acres. Four of the historic Aycock buildings, including
the dwelling house, have been purchased and moved to their
original site on the State-owned land and architectural plans
and specifications have been prepared for their restoration.
During the next biennium it is expected that the restoration
and landscaping will be completed, access roads and park-ing
facilities provided, and a dwelling house constructed
for the Historic Site Specialist in charge.
Governor Aycock by common consent was one of the
great governors of North Carolina. Plans are being made
to erect a museum building to house special exhibits illu-
r,8 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Dan n \l(u Milhui anil Uso,
Architect's (hawing- for the Chailes H. Ayeock liii'thplace,
'< s, Oitotur H, 195.< partment of Archives and History, October 15, 195S
Members of the staflE of the Hall of History. (Left to right) front row: Mrs. Julia
S. Cole and Mrs. Barbara McK. Shultz; back row: Mrs. Joye E. Jordan (Museums
Administrator), Norman C. Larson, John D. Ellington, and Marvin K. Rogers.
State Department of Archives and History 45
the other "Childhood," were added to the Colonial and
Revolutionary Room.
The Allen Kitchen has been cleaned, renovated, repaired,
landscaped, and planted. A Junior League volunteer com-pleted
the curtains for the kitchen.
An exhibit on "Moravian Crafts," displaying articles
used in the Wachovia settlement in the eighteenth and early
nineteenth centuries, was placed on display commemorating
the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Moravian
Church.
A complete renovation, including new models of a surrey
and a buggy and new backgrounds for all of the dioramas,
was made in the Olds Memorial Gallery.
Special Exhibits:
The Portrait Gallery has proven to be the most flexible
space available in the museum. As a result, it is used for
Km Cooler. The Ralfigh Timrx, October 11, 1958
Mrs Julia S Ck- in Ihc Allen KiU-he.i. datinR from about I.S'IO, KJveri to the State
iiy the Huntley family in memoiy of their mother, Mrs. Mary Allen Huntley, moved
fiom Wadesboro in 1ci>artni( iit <>r Ar(hirr:i and History. October i4, 195S
Members of the staff of the Division of Publications. (Left to riyht) Miss Jo Ann
Roberts, Miss Beth G. Crabtree, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Wilborn, and D. L. Corbitt
[Editor).
During the two-year period a total of 25,750 volumes,
leaflets, charts, and pamphlets were mailed. ^ The Depart-ment
has always served scholars and teachers of North
Carolina history, but recently more emphasis has been
placed on the public schools with the result that many stu-dents
are making use of its services. Public and school
libraries, college and university libraries, and the general
public have continued to receive the services of the Depart-ment.
' For a list of the number of volumes, pamphlets, leaflets, and charts mailed by
month, see Appendix XXIII, p. 122.
56 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
The Division received a sum of ^n,T.\\)—an increase of
41 per cent—of which $5,592 w^as for membership dues in
the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association—
a
decrease of 1 per cent. The remaining $12,147 represented
an increase of 42 per cent for the State. This sum was col-lected
for subscriptions to The North Carolina Historical
Review and the Department's other publications.
For the past several years the North Carolina Literary
and Historical Association has had a Committee on Local
Historical Societies. The Editor of the Division has served
as chairman of the committee and during the biennium he
has assisted in organizing groups in the following counties
:
Chatham, Davidson, Harnett, Martin, Perquimans, and
Wake. During the years he has served as chairman, groups
have been organized in thirty-four counties. Some of the
groups are now inactive.
The number of subscribers - to The North Carolina His-torical
Revietv has decreased, " but at the same time there
has been a definite increase in the distribution of other
publications. The number of books, pamphlets, maps, and
charts distributed shows an increase of more than 7,000
copies. Also the amount of mail has increased. During the
two-year period 87,130 items of mail were placed in the post
office—an average cf 3,630 items each month. This was an
increase of 20 per cent for the biennium. Thus it is evident
that the services of the Division are reaching more people
than formerly.
Publications
A total of forty-one items was published—volumes, eight
numbers of The Noiih Carolina Historical Review, twelve
issues of Carolina Coiumefits, pamphlets, and leaflets.
Documentary and Other Volumes:
The Pa'pers of Willie Person Mangum, edited by Henry
Thomas Shanks. Volume V, 1847-1894. 1956, pp. xxxviii,
812, illustrated,
- For a list of paid-up subscribers, new or renewal, received per month, see Ap-pendix
XXVI. p. 123.
^ For a list of the number of copies of The ReA'ieiv mailed each quarter, see Ap-pendix
XXTV, p. 122,
State Department of Archives and History 57
Th( I'dprrs of WilUnni AUxdinUv (IralKUn, edited by J.
G. de Roulhac Hamilton. Volume I, 1825-1837. 1957, pp.
xxiv, 555, illustrated.
Public Addresses, Letters, and Papers of William Kerr
Scott, Governor of North Carolina, 1949-1953, edited by
David Leroy Corbitt. 1957, pp. xxxiii, 626, illustrated.
Public Addresses, Letters, and Papers of Williani Bradley
Umstead, Governor of North Carolina, 1953-1954, edited
by David Leroy Corbitt. 1957, pp. xxxiii, 414, illustrated.
North Carolina Governors, 1585-1958: Brief Sketches,
by Beth G. Crabtree. 1958, pp xiv, 137, illustrated.
Y" Countie of Albemarle in Carolina: A Collection of
Docnments, 1664-1675, edited by William S. Powell. 1958,
pp. xxxii, 101, illustrated.
Madiin FutrrJl. fhpartivnit of .Irc/ur.-s and History. March 2i, 1958
y Countie of Alhimarlr in Carolina (1!I5S) and 7'Iic Journal of tlir House of
lUirijesses (li>49. repiinteil 1958). These two publications of the Department, both
edited by William S. Powell, are now available at $1.50 and $1.00, respectively.
Pamphlets and Leaflets:
The Department published the following pamphlets and
leaflets
:
Tiventij-Sixth Biennial Report of the North Carolina De-partment
of Archives and History, 1954-1956. 1956, pp. 95,
illustrated.
58 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
The "Zebtdon B. Vance," A United States Liberty Ship.
By Beth G. Crabtree. 1956, pp. 19, illustrated.
The Archives of the North Carolina Department of Ar-chives
and History Services to the Public. 1956, pp. 8, il-lustrated.
Records Majiagement in North Carolina. 1957, pp. 8.
Historical Research in the North Carolina Department of
Archives and History. 1957, pp. 8.
Town Creek Indian Mound, State Historic Site. 1958, pp.
6, illustrated.
Carolina Charter of 1663. 1958, 1 p., illustrated.
Picturebook of Tar Heel Authors. By Richard Walser.
1957, pp. V, 38, illustrated.
Map of North Carolina, 1861-1865, indicat'ng- principal
engagements. 1957 and 1958, 1 p.
Map of North Carolina. Outline map showing counties.
1957 and 1958, 1 p.
North Carolina County Histories, A Bibliography. By
William S. Powell. 1957, pp. ii. 24, mimeographed.
The Department republished the following publications
:
The Journal of the House of Burgesses, of the Province of
North Carolina, 171^0. Introduction by William S. Powell,
second printing. 1958, pp. xix, 14.
Money Problems of Early Tar Heels. By Mattie Erma
Parker, 4th edition. 1957, pp. 14, illustrated.
The North Carolina Flag. By W. R. Edmonds, revised by
D. L. Corbitt, 3rd edition. 1957, pp. 14, illustrated.
Chart Showing Origin of North Carolina Connties. By D.
L. Corbitt and L. Polk Denmark. 1957, 1 p.
The War of the Regulation and The Battle of Alamance,
May 16, 1771. By WilHam S. Powell, 2nd edition. 1957, pp.
32, illustrated.
The North Carolina Historical Review:
Eight issues of The North Caroliria Historical Review
were published. There were 2,000 copies of each issue and
12,044 copies of all issues were mailed, including 1,528
back issues. * The total cost of printing this journal was
* For a list of the number of copies of back issues mailed per month, see Appendix
XXV, p 122.
State Department of Archives and History 50
$11,777, an average of $1,472 per issue. Paid-up subscrip-tions,
either new or renewal, totaling 2,464 were received,
averaging 102 per month. Subscribers are located in twenty-five
states, the District of Columbia, and two foreign coun-tries.
The publication is mailed on exchange to institutions
and organizations in thirty-three States, the District of
Columbia, and three foreign countries.
Forty-two articles (one of which was in two parts) and
six documents or collections of letters (one of which was
in two parts) were published in The Review. Twenty-eight
articles were on North Carolina subjects, ' five were on the
South and related subjects, and nine were on biography. All
six of the documentary sections dealt with North Carolina
or North Carolinians. ' Thirty of the authors were North
Carolinians and eighteen were from outside the State.
There were 141 books reviewed in The Review: twenty-nine
on North Carolina history; nine on North Carolina
biography ; fifty-six on the history of other States and the
South ; twenty-seven on general biography ; and twenty on
general subjects. These books were reviewed by forty-four
resident North Carolinians and forty-one by scholars out-side
the State.
Carolina Comments:
This four-page news sheet, which was begun in May,
1952, continued to be issued every two months. Each issue
is usually illustrated and 2,500 copies" of each issue are
published. It is mailed free to subscribers to The North
Carolina Historical Review, members of the North Carolina
Literary and Historical Association, to public, college and
university, and public school libraries in the State, and to
some of the larger libraries and archival agencies through-out
the United States.
The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association
:
In January, 1924, the Department of Archives and
History began to publish quarterly The North Carolina
For a list of articles published in The Review, see Appendix XXVII, p. 123.
' For a list of documents published in The Review, see Appendix XXVIII, p. 125.
For a list of the number of copies of Caroliva Comments mailed each issue, see
Appendix XXIX, p. 12.5.
60 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
Uistorind Ucvtcir, and this niaKazine has been published
regularly since that date. It carries material pertaining to
the State's history, documents, book reviews, and historical
news.
All members of the Association are subscribers to The
Review at a reduced rate. In the beginning the dues in the
Association were $1.00 per year and a subscription to The
Review was $2.00 per year, but members of the Association
received a membership in the Association and a year's
subscription to The Review for $2.00. All dues for both
were divided equally between the Association and the De-partment.
During the intervening years several changes
were made in the dues of the Association, but no change
was made in the subscription rate to The Review until
January, 1956, when the subscription price was advanced
from $2.00 to $3.00 per year. At the same time the dues in
the Association were advanced to $5.00 per year—which
included a year's subscription. The dues in the Association
are divided equally. The North Carolina Literary and His-torical
Association receives $2.50 and the Department $2.50.
During the biennium the average mailing of The North
Carolina Historical Review was 1,314 copies while during
the previous biennium the average was 1,453 copies per
issue. This was a 10 per cent decrease from the last bien-nium.
During the biennium 1952-1954 the average number
mailed was 1,121 per issue. Thus this biennium the mailing
showed an increase of 14 per cent over the period 1952-
1954.
FUTURE PUBLICATIONS
When the Department, in 1908, began to publish documen-tary
volumes it was able to pay a nominal fee to editors who
prepared materials for publication and to see the volumes
through the press. During the depression years this phase
of its work was curtailed for lack of funds. It is unrealistic
to expect scholars to edit documentary material for the
Department without some compensation for their labors
and for traveling expenses in order for them to visit im-
State Department ok Archives and History G1
portant archives and research centers where they may
have access to relevant research materials. The fact that
the Department is not able to pay for such services makes
it difficult to interest competent scholars because these
people must earn a living for their families. There is much
more involved than merely locating materials. All the docu-ments,
letters, and reports must be copied and the copies
thoroughly checked before the editor really begins his re-search
for documenting his material. He must visit re-search
centers and large libraries. Thus much travel is
necessary. The Department should assist interested editors
by procuring copies of materials and paying a small portion
of the personal expenses involved in such work.
The Department has in hand edited materials for several
documentary volumes as soon as funds are available. The
funds now available are just barely enough to publish one
volume annually, and there are no prospects that additional
funds will be provided in the near future.
Zebulon B. Vance Papers:
The first volume of this series of some six or seven
volumes has been in page proof for eighteen months except
the front matter. Dr. Frontis W. Johnston, Head of the
History Department at Davidson College, is editing the
material and has been unable to reduce the biographical
material to a proper proportion. The material in this series
covers an interesting period in North Carolina history.
\"ance was Congressman, three times governor of the State,
and United States Senator. 1879-1894. He served as gover-nor
during the Civil War period, and was one of the most
popular public otticials in all North Carolina history. The
Department expects to issue the volumes just as soon as
Dr. Johnston can complete his editorial work and funds
become available.
Blount Papers:
During the biennium, 1952-1954, volume one of this series
became available for distribution. Dr. Alice B. Keith of
Meredith College is editing the series and during this bien-nium
volume two was placed in the hands of the printer,
62 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
and is now in galley proof. It is planned that volume three
will be published as soon as Dr. Keith can complete her
editorial work and funds are provided. This material is
from the family papers of John Gray, Thomas, and William
Blount and other members of the Blount family during the
late colonial, revolutionary, and early national periods.
William A. Graham Papers:
Volume one of this series that will total approximately
six volumes was issued. Volume two will be sent to the
printer as soon as funds are provided. William A. Graham
was Governor of the State, United States Senator, Secretary
of the Navy, Confederate States Senator, and vice presi-dential
nominee on the Whig ticket with General Winfield
Scott in 1852. Dr. J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton of Chapel Hill,
who has edited three other series for the Department, is
editor of this series.
Thomas Jordau Jarvis Papers:
The Department has secured the services of Dr. W. B.
Yearns of Wake Forest College to edit these papers. Dr.
Yearns has begun work on this material, but as yet he
does not know how many volumes will be necessary to
complete the work. Thomas J. Jarvis was a Confederate
soldier, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, United States Sena-tor,
and Minister to Brazil. Jarvis was interested in internal
improvements and particularly in railroad development and
educational progress.
Robert B. Glenn Papers:
Dr. Joseph R. Steelman of East Carolina College has
agreed to edit the Robert B. Glenn Papers. This will proba-bly
consist of one volume. Glenn represented Forsyth
County in the State senate in 1899 and was governor, 1905-
1909, following the administration of Charles B. Aycock,
the educational governor.
The Willie Person Mangum Papers:
During the last several years the Department published
five volumes of the Mangum Papers and it was thought
State Department of Archives and History 63
that Volume V concluded the series. Last year the Library
of Congress acquired additional Mangum letters, and Dr.
Henry T. Shanks, editor, now believes that there will be
two or three more volumes. He expects to begin work on
this additional material during the fall and the Department
will be interested in publishing it as soon as Dr. Shanks can
complete it and the money becomes available.
Pamphlets:
At the end of the biennium several pamphlets were in
the process of preparation. Secretaries of the Navy, Brief
Sketches of Five North Carolinians was ready for the
printer. This pamphlet will be approximately twenty pages
and will be illustrated. A North Carolina Historical Calendar —a pamphlet designed to give brief and specific information
on North Carolina history—is in preparation but is not yet
completed. Mr. Hugh F. Rankin is preparing a pamphlet
on North Carolina in the Revolution, Dr. John G. Barrett
one on North Carolina in the Civil War, and Dr. William
S. Hoffman still another on North Carolina in the Mexican
War. A pamphlet, largely made up of pictures, dealing with
the Civil War period, is nearly ready for the printer. A
pamphlet on the Governor's Mansion is also being written.
The pamphlet program is designed primarily for the pub-lic
schools and the program will be expanded in the future.
Publications for School Children:
During the past few years the Department has shifted
the emphasis of its publication program in the direction
of providing the students of our public schools with more
materials on the State's history. There is a particular need
for this, for these students of today should be instructed
in their background and heritage so that they will make
better citizens and civic leaders of tomorrow. This shift in
program has been made without neglecting the needs of
the research scholar, the librarian, the school teacher, and
the adult layman.
(54 Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report
State Department of Archives anu History G5
APPENDIX II
Appropriations and Expenditures, 1930-1958
Year Appropriaticn Expenditures
1930-1931 $30,865 $23,565
1931-1932 24,865 18,339
1932-1933 20,065 13,286
1933-1934 12,826 11,223
1934-1935 11,315 11,298
1935-1936 19,364 16,157
1936-1937 20,294 19,986
1937-1938 21,843 20,478
1938-1939 22,443 22,088
1939-1940 21,160 20,594
1940-1941 21,160 20,669
1941-1942 23,300 21,253
1942-1943 24,514 23,843
1943-1944 28,707 27,973
1944-1945 28,212 26,941
1945-1946 45,290 30,651
1946-1947 54,827 51,388
1947-1948 68,391 66,642
1948-1949 64,073 63,800
1949-1950 84,851 83,958
1950-1951 93,723 93,629
1951-1952 99,668 97,658
1952-1953 113,528 110,523
1953-1954 161,203 153,265
1954-1955 160,084 148,510
1955-1956 183,182 165,063
1956-1957 194,133 181,530
1957-1958 346,535 262,927
APPENDIX III
Al'PROPKIATlONS AND EXPENDITURES, l!)5(;-195S
1956-1957 1957-195S
Appropria- Expendi- Apprupria- Expendi-tio)
i f II res tion tiires
Salaries and Wagx's $127,522 $126,098 $170,217 $158,902
Supplies and Materials 12,292 11,371 13,050 12.244
Postage, Telephone,
Telegrams, Express 2,180 2,180 2,100 2,036
Travel Expense 3,680 3,448 5,705 4,573
Printing and Binding 16,400 16,400 17,400 16,598.
Motor Vehicle
Operation 950 860 1,825 1,195
—
State Department of Archives and History G7
APPENDIX V
Positions and Salary Ranges, June 30, 1958
Archives and History Scries
Director $ 9,600
State Archivist 6,156-7,500
Archivist II 4,104-5,112
Archivist I 3,516-4,356
Public Records Examiner 4,620-5,796
State Records Center Supervisor 4,620-5,796
Editor 5,928-7,104
Editorial Assistant II 4,104-5.112
Editorial Assistant I 3,516-4,356
Museum Administrator 5,688-6,864
Museum Curator II 4,104-5,112
Museum Curator I 3,516-4,356
Historic Sites Superintendent 5,688-6,864
Historic Site Specialist 4,104-5,112
Clc)-ical cold Goio-al Series
Stenographer Clerk III 3,300-4,140
Stenographer Clerk II 2,868-3,624
Photographer I 3,192-4,032
Clerk II 2,772-3,528
Cii studied and Housekeeping Series
Janitor 1,872-2,460
Janitor-Messenger 2,016-2,604
APPENDIX VI
List of Employees, Showing Name, Title, and Period of Service
(if Less Than the Full Biennium)*
Adndtiist)ution :
Crittenden, Christopher. Director
Futrell. Mrs. Madlin M., Photographer I. July 1. iy57-June 30, 1958
Hardy, James T.. Janitor-Messenger
Johnson, Mrs. Blanche M., Stenographer Clerk III
Kill)y. .Ann Jones, Stenographer Clerk II
Dirisidii (if A rclii r( s and Ma niisrrii>fs :
A rehires :
Ueers, Mi-s. Pauline Cone. .Aicliivist il, Octobe)- 1, 1957-February 21,
1958
* These data of course are only for the two years, July 1. 1956-June 30, 1958.
In many instances the teim of service Vjegan befoie oi' continued after this two-year
perio